Tennessee SB1141/HB670

Well, all I can say is... It's about damn time!  We here in Arizona have been on the front line of this all alone.  We are only 6 million people.  We can't do it all!  Now, to the rest of America I say... well?  what are you waiting for?

The Fiscal note on the SB 1141 page and the HB 670 page both link to the pdf of  HB 670.

Governor Bredesen signed a controversial immigration bill into law.

SB1141/HB670, which takes effect in January, requires state jails to report any undocumented inmates to federal authorities.

Monday, Governor Bredesen signed a controversial immigration bill into law.

SB1141/HB670, which takes effect in January, requires state jails to report any undocumented inmates to federal authorities.

In Loudon County, law enforcement officers typically discover the residential status of inmates upon booking.

"That's when we'd determine, or at least try to determine, whether they have good, valid documentation," said Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider.

Up until Monday, if inmates weren't able to produce valid documents, they were treated similarly to other inmates who could.

"You'd book them like anyone else and hope it's the right name," Sheriff Guider said.

That didn't always include a call to federal immigration authorities -- now, it has to.