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Tennessee’s Felony Law when Local Officials Vote for ‘Sanctuary’ Policies Is Ruled Unconstitutional
A court order prevents felony charges and removal of local officials for sanctuary policy votes, upholding constitutional protections for legislative voting rights in Tennessee.
- Nashville Chancellor Russell Perkins signed an agreed order on Wednesday that blocks enforcement of two felony provisions in a 2025 Tennessee law, leaving sanctuary policies illegal but protected from prosecutions.
- The law, passed in the 2025 legislative session, criminalizes sanctuary policy votes despite warnings, and the 2025 session retained this penalty amid GOP supermajority support.
- Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti conceded his office could not defend the provisions imposing a Class E felony punishable by up to six years in prison and removal proceedings for local officials, reaffirming this in the Feb. 25 filing.
- The agreed order bars District Attorney Glenn Funk and successors from prosecuting, and Skrmetti and successors from pursuing removals, protecting officials voting for sanctuary policies, as Capp called it a "historic victory for free speech."
- The ACLU of Tennessee noted this is the first known instance of the viewpoint-based felony claim, while critics and advocates said Tennessee 'tried to gag local officials' despite Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's assertion of 'absolute immunity' for legislative votes.
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Associated Press News+17 Reposted by 17 other sources
Tennessee's felony law when local officials vote for 'sanctuary' policies is ruled unconstitutional
A Tennessee law that threatens local officials with felony charges and possible imprisonment if they vote for so-called “sanctuary policies” on immigration has been ruled unconstitutional.
·United States
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TheVoiceOfJoyce In Memphis local law enforcement vies with Border Patrol to arrest immigrants. In Nashville and other cities, Council members and legislators on the State and local level can now vote for Sanctuary Cities without penalties. It’s now legal
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A Tennessee law that threatens local officials with felony charges and possible prison time in case of voting for so-called “sanctuary policies” was declared unconstitutional after the state refused to defend her in court.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources22
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution70% Center
Bias Distribution
- 70% of the sources are Center
70% Center
L 20%
C 70%
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