Civil rights attorney Ben Crump on Saturday claimed Tennessee’s new law requiring those applying for a driver’s license to demonstrate their lawful residence status in the country and take an English proficiency exam has the potential to undo “30 years of progress” in the Volunteer State.
Crump made the comments on social media while sharing an article about House Bill (HB) 1708, the legislation signed into law by Governor Bill Lee earlier this year. Once effective in January 2027, it will require those applying for a Tennessee driver’s license to submit documentation providing citizenship, and to complete an English proficiency exam. If they fail, applicants will receive a nonrenewable license valid for just 36 months, after which they must pass the English proficiency exam to obtain a valid driver’s license.
“Tennessee just passed a law requiring proof of citizenship and English proficiency just to get a driver’s license,” wrote Crump in a post to X. “What they are calling public safety, immigration lawyers and economists are calling a barrier to growth.”
The lawyer added, “30 years of progress in this state could be undone by a law that targets people who are here legally, working, and contributing to our communities. We must pay attention to legislation like this.”
Tennessee just passed a law requiring proof of citizenship and English proficiency just to get a driver's license. What they are calling public safety, immigration lawyers and economists are calling a barrier to growth. 30 years of progress in this state could be undone by a law…
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) June 21, 2026
Though not noted by Crump, Tennessee also adopted a new law in 2025 to limit standard driver licenses to U.S. citizens. Lawful permanent residents instead receive temporary credentials that are marked differently from those issued to citizens.
While Crump is based in Florida, he has been involved with at least 10 different high-profile lawsuits in the Volunteer State since 2021.
These include the ongoing litigation against the City of Memphis over the death of Tyre Nichols, two lawsuits alleging mistreatment at Shelby County Jail led to the deaths of inmates, litigation over the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old during a 2021 confrontation inside a high school, and a lawsuit over the 2023 fatal shooting of a 21-year-old by a Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
Crump was also retained to represent the Tennessee Bonding Company, which was operated by Brian Cole Sr., the father of the Virginia man who prosecutors claim planted pipe bombs in Washington, D.C. on January 5, 2021. The attorney called for a federal pattern-and-practice investigation into a Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney who allegedly blocked Cole Sr. from expanding his business operations in Tennessee.
During the last presidential election, Crump also appeared at a Memphis political event for supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he endorsed earlier in 2024.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ben Crump” by Tony Webster. CC BY-SA 2.0.
