NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Tennessee House Republican called the Department of Homeland Security’s declaration that Nashville and Shelby County are sanctuary jurisdictions “an embarrassment” and “a shame.”

DHS included Nashville and Shelby County on its list of sanctuary jurisdictions, which was “created to identify sanctuary jurisdictions, which are determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions, and legal protections for illegal aliens,” according to DHS.

Rep. Rusty Grills (R-Newbern) called the label "sad."

“It's a slap in the face to the rest of Tennessee when you have a mayor or city alderman and Nashville Metro that are trying to circumvent federal law. That’s not the way Tennessee operates," Grills said. "We operate by rules and regulations, and we obey the laws. When you have a mayor who's gone rogue, that’s a problem.” 

Under state law, it's a felony to enact sanctuary city policies. DHS's new declaration that Nashville and Shelby County are sanctuary jurisdictions raises questions about whether the municipalities are in violation of that state law.

Grills argues they are.

“Anytime you have someone that’s helping a group of people break the law, that’s a problem, and I’m concerned when DHS has to come in and say, 'You know what, Tennessee, you’ve got two counties that are breaking the law.' That’s an embarrassment and that’s a shame," Grills said.

However, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell told reporters Friday he isn't concerned about any potential charges or discoveries of wrongdoing. He questioned how DHS came up with the sanctuary jurisdiction label in the first place.

“I’m puzzled about what criteria they used to include Nashville," O'Connell said. "We are not and never have been a sanctuary city. If you look at the state law that defines a sanctuary city policy, there are six factors, and we do not and have not ever had a policy that violates any of those factors.” 

According to the state law, a sanctuary policy is defined as any rule that prevents state or local officials from working with federal immigration officers, limits sharing information about people's legal status, or blocks ICE from doing its job.

"Metro does not have any legal authority as it relates to immigration enforcement, and we do not impede federal law enforcement actions," O'Connell said.

However, Grills disagrees.

"They want to protect criminals, they want to protect rapists, they want to protect murderers, and it’s obvious they’re willing to create GoFundMe accounts so they can help people that are in this country illegally circumvent the law, that’s a problem," Grills said.

Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles called for a Congressional investigation to uncover any potential wrongdoing by O'Connell. That investigation has begun.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/tn-house-republican-reacts-to-nashvilles-sanctuary-city-label-by-dhs/