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The Tennessee Senate passed two measures Monday designed to keep undocumented immigrants from working for state and local governments and receiving benefits.

Part of Republicans’ “Immigration 2026” package developed in cooperation with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, the bills would require the use of an E-verify, or a federal employment verification system, to determine whether a person is lawfully present in the country before receiving government benefits or is employed by the local government or state.

Under Senate Bill 1915, sponsored by Republican Sen. Ed Jackson, local governments would have to use the E-verify system to check the status of applicants before they could receive any benefits, including those offered by county health departments. Reports would have to be filed with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, which has an Immigration Enforcement Division that makes grants to local governments.

The measure, adopted on a 26-6 vote, would give the attorney general authority to investigate complaints and withhold state funds from local governments that don’t comply.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville questioned the bill, saying it raises the potential for creating criminal liability for local governments and anyone who fails to check a person’s legal status. 

Tennessee House passes bill requiring immigration checks in public schools

Yarbro said the bill isn’t clear about what types of benefits would be affected, whether someone is seeking use of a homeless shelter, library card, youth sports sign-ups or a blanket and food after a hurricane. He said most people in the Senate chamber, if asked, wouldn’t be able to prove their citizenship immediately.

“This doesn’t save any money. … But it does create a big list of people and the documents they’re carrying and then creates this massive liability for local governments, I think, for little value,” Yarbro said.

Republican Sen. Becky Massey of Knoxville countered that argument by saying that a person’s driver’s license is proof of citizenship. But Democratic Sen. Raumesh Akbari of Memphis said that isn’t true, because a person can obtain a driver’s license without being an American citizen. For example, she said her father, who moved to the United States decades ago from Iran, used a green card to get a driver’s license until he obtained citizenship.

In addition, the Senate voted 26-5 in favor of Senate Bill 1922, sponsored by Republican Sen. Richard Briggs of Knoxville, which would require state and local governments to use the e-verify system before hiring workers. Senators didn’t debate the bill Monday before voting.

The House previously adopted its version of the bill, HB1705.

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