Over 18,500 Illegal Immigrants Have Been Removed from Tennessee Since 2025 as State Expands Collaboration with ICE
Tennessee Today

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Tennessee Republicans report that 18,530 illegal immigrants have been removed from Tennessee since January 2025. This large number of removals follows extensive legislation passed by Republicans to increase collaboration with immigration enforcement and ensure that illegal immigrants are unable to benefit from state programs.

Legislation aimed at immigration enforcement passed by the 114th General Assembly includes:

• Requiring county sheriffs to enter 287(g) agreements with federal immigration officials.
• Directing law enforcement to honor ICE detainers and hold illegal immigrants for up to 48 hours.
• Ending sanctuary-court practices
• Establishing state criminal penalties for illegals who remain in Tennessee after a final order of removal.
• Requiring government employers to verify work authorization through E-Verify.
• Requiring written driver’s license exams to be administered in English.
• Barring illegal immigrants from receiving professional licenses.
• Establishing criminal penalties for illegals driving a commercial motor vehicle in Tennessee

According to Republican lawmakers, immigration enforcement in Tennessee has largely focused on the removal of criminal illegal immigrants, especially those who have committed violent crimes. The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference’s Immigration Enforcement Report for 2025 reported 21,648 criminal charges involving those who are unlawfully present in the US or whose citizenship status could not be verified.

On the removals, Representative William Lamberth stated, “Every one of these removals represents a Tennessee community made safer. Simply put, if you’re in Tennessee illegally, you will be removed.”

Speaker Cameron Sexton applauded the leadership of President Donald Trump and Governor Bill Lee for their commitment to strong immigration enforcement, further stating, “Tennessee will not become a sanctuary state for illegal immigration. We will always stand with law enforcement to preserve the safety and well-being of our communities…We will ensure our public benefits are only for those who are citizens and who come into our country legally.”

With 142 Tennessee agencies now participating in 287(g) agreements with federal immigration officials, which allow local agencies to better collaborate with ICE, and Republicans pledging to continue to strengthen immigration enforcement, Tennessee is expected to see continued removals of illegal immigrants.