TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jul 24, 2026

The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Law Center have renewed their challenge to a Tennessee law that makes illegal immigration a state crime after U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson dismissed a similar lawsuit last month. According to the Tennessee Lookout, the civil rights groups filed a second lawsuit July 17 seeking an immediate and permanent halt to the law, which creates a misdemeanor offense for immigrants who remain in Tennessee more than 90 days after receiving a final removal order from an immigration judge. The lawsuit argues lawmakers violated the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which holds that federal law takes precedence over conflicting state laws, by allowing the state to enforce immigration law. Richardson ruled last month that two plaintiffs lacked standing because they would not be subject to arrest under the law. The same plaintiffs are named in the refiled lawsuit, which provides additional details about their immigration status and alleges they could face arrest under the Tennessee law.