Justice Scale And Row Of Law Books

A justice scale in front of a row of law books.

A federal court recently dismissed a case challenging a Tennessee law making it illegal to “harbor” or “smuggle” undocumented immigrants.

The Republican supermajority within the Tennessee General Assembly passed the law in 2025, facing opposition from immigrant advocacy organizations like the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. The now-dismissed lawsuit was brought forth by the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and argued that the law is unconstitutional and that its broad language could criminalize landlords, churches and nonprofits that house undocumented immigrants. It also contended that enforcement of immigration law should be left up to the federal government rather than the states.

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Jill Huse