A bill in the Tennessee House of Representatives would trigger harsher penalties for violent crimes if the person convicted of those crimes is an illegal alien.
HB 1872 “authorizes the enhancement of criminal penalties up to life in prison without parole upon conviction of violent crimes by illegal aliens; conviction of possession of a firearm or deadly weapon by an illegal alien; or conviction of a violent crime on the property of a school by any person.”
In the context of the bill, “violent crime” is defined by Tennessee Code Title 40 § 40-38-111(g). According to that code, 27 violent crimes could apply to enhanced sentencing for illegal aliens
Some of those crimes are:
- Aggravated arson
- Aggravated assault
- Aggravated sexual battery
- Rape of a child
- Kidnapping
- First and second-degree murder
- Criminally negligent homicide
- Reckless homicide
- Voluntary manslaughter
The bill was introduced by State Representative Monty Fritts (R-Kingston).
In a statement, Fritts (pictured above) told The Tennessee Star:
The Biden White House has implemented a set of dangerous policies at our southern border. These policies place all our citizens, as well as those who are in this country legally, at great risk.Â
 These policies have enabled and encouraged human and drug trafficking.Â
The Biden Administration has allowed those who hate America to wage a war against us by allowing Chinese manufactured drugs, like fentanyl and methamphetamine, to flow through corrupt Mexican facilities and then come across the border, bringing addiction and death. People from all over the world have been enticed, with promises of a better life and an easy entrance into America, into lives of misery in the forced sex and labor trades. In just 3 years, the Biden Administration has resurrected slavery in the United States.Â
 These drug lords and slave traders bring violence and collateral crimes to Tennessee. HB1872 makes it clear that Tennessee will not yield to those who intend to bring this violence and crime into our state. Tennessee has one of the highest standards of living and best quality of life in the country. We lead the nation in many other ways, as well, and we have the opportunity to lead the nation in taking this stand. Our geographic placement in the Southeast positions us to be able to make a significant impact on all types of illegal trafficking and the violence that comes with them.
 Those in this country illegally who commit felonious acts of violence or use a deadly weapons in the commission of crime in this state should never expect to see the light of day outside a Tennessee penitentiary. They should not expect to be released on bond either. The very fact that that they are here illegally and committing crimes indicates a disregard for our laws. Allowing magistrates and judges to consider a defendant’s legal residency status in making bail decisions provides them with a tool to ensure these defendants will appear in court, be held accountable for their actions, and prevent them from re-entering our communities, giving their victims the justice they deserve.
 This legislation also sends the same Zero Tolerance message to those adults who consider committing felonious acts of violence in our K-12 schools. Schools are places where our children go to learn. Tennessee will not tolerate this egregious violations of these institutions.
Illegal immigration is a hot topic of debate in the United States after a string of high-profile crimes by illegal aliens.
The consequences of illegal immigration have recently hit home for Tennesseans.
As reported this week by The Tennessee Star this week, two people arrested in connection with a multinational human smuggling and sex trafficking ring in Nashville were present in the United States illegally.
The murder of University of Georgia (UGA) nursing student Laken Riley, 22, allegedly at the hands of Venezuelan illegal alien Jose Ibarra, has garnered significant media coverage and led to the introduction of the Laken Riley Act.
That bill would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to issue detainers even for small crimes committed by illegal aliens, like theft and burglary.
High-profile federal and state officials from Tennessee, including Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, have called for the bill’s passage.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter/X.
Background Photo “Tennessee General Assembly” by Antony-22. CC BY-SA 2.0.
I am surprised that our legislators have grown some semblance of a spine. It’s a step in the right direction but the fact is, it is a violation of Federal law to enter our country without permission. To ignore “some” of our laws still leaves us in a state of anarchy.
Send illegal immigrants back home. Don’t keep them here in our great state.
How about any crime committed when a firearm, knife, machete or other weapon was present.