A left-wing immigration group in Tennessee filed a lawsuit this week against the state highway patrol, accusing the law enforcement agency of conducting traffic stops to look for civil immigration violations.
Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) said in its lawsuit that the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) has been working “in tandem” with federal law enforcement “with the shared goal of detaining motorists to investigate their immigration status.”
“These agencies have operated in tandem because the officers of each agency have powers that the officers of the other lack. THP troopers can detain motorists for traffic violations; ICE agents generally cannot. Meanwhile, ICE agents can detain people for violating civil immigration laws; THP troopers cannot,” the lawsuit said.
TIRRC said that these agencies have operated “in tandem” on Tennessee roadways to have THP troopers “stop vehicles for putative traffic violations when they suspect the motorists are noncitizens, and ICE agents—who either ride along with the troopers or are on standby nearby—then arrest the detained motorist if they develop probable cause of an immigration violation.”
The left-wing group said THP is using its traffic stop powers “in service of ICE’s arrest objectives.”
According to the lawsuit, the joint THP and federal law enforcement operations are causing “great harm to Tennesseans.”
“The THP’s subservience to ICE turns our highways into ad hoc immigration check points, and it also deprives taxpayers of the THP’s protection against dangerous misconduct on the state highways,” the lawsuit said.
“THP is engaging in subterfuge by programmatically using its traffic stop powers to serve ICE’s immigration arrest objectives. This programmatic subterfuge is illegal,” the lawsuit added.
TIRRC said THP is acting outside its “statutory mandate,” adding that when THP conducts “warrantless detentions of motorists,” it is violating their 4th Amendment rights.
The lawsuit also accused THP of violating people’s 14th Amendment and the Tennessee Constitution when it stops “motorists based primarily on their perceived race or ethnicity.”
TIRCC and seven Tennesseeans asked a judge to stop the THP from “engaging with immigration agents in joint operations whose purpose is the enforcement of civil immigration law.”
The plaintiffs added that they want to return THP to its proper law enforcement role and stop the misuse of Tennessee taxpayer money for “these illegal operations.”
Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director at TIRRC, said the organization is “focused on advocating for the rights and freedoms of our community members using every tool available to us, including the power of the law.”
“Regardless of race, immigration status, or where we live in the state, all of us are guaranteed the rights granted to us in the Constitution and we will continue to defend our community in the streets and in the courts when our rights are violated,” she said.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at [email protected].
Hello Immigration? Please don’t be selective on enforcing our laws. Tirrc out of Tennessee.
Civil violations? No, try criminal. From the moment they cross the border, ILLEGALLY.
Interesting as how TIRRC gets to grift off of illegal immigration. If not for this illegal activity, they would be out of business. Time to rein in all non-profits and NGOs.
This issue brings to mind the same liberal BS; a LEO pulls over a vehicle for a minor traffic violation (IT’S STILL A TRAFFIC VIOLATION) and the driver is a non-white person. The liberals automatically start jumping up and down screaming racism. If your vehicle is in violation of state or federal laws, OR if your driving behavior is questioned by law enforcement, THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT IN THE WORLD TO PULL YOU OVER, AND IF YOU ARE IN OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, YOU MUST BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY.
I’m so sick and tired of liberal organizations and NGOs whining about the treatment of ILLEGAL ALIENS.
This “group” is suing, because existing law is being enforced?
What’s the problem? THP stops people for violating traffic law, and ICE arrests people for violating immigration law. It’s a win-win.
Don’t violate traffic law, and you won’t be stopped.
Don’t violate immigration la, and you won’t be arrested.
It isn’t any of the TIRRC’s business how law enforcement conducts traffic stops or searches for illegal aliens, it is called law enforcement. coordination and is perfectly legal. The TIRRC however is an illegitimate NGO breaking the law by aiding and abetting human trafficking of illegal aliens. Perhaps ICE should pay them a visit.