The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation that holds a nongovernmental organization liable for damages or injuries resulting from crimes committed by undocumented immigrants it houses long-term. House Bill 811, sponsored by State Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, allows legal action against organizations that knowingly provide extended housing to undocumented immigrants who later commit crimes. “This is […]
The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation that holds a nongovernmental organization liable for damages or injuries resulting from crimes committed by undocumented immigrants it houses long-term.
House Bill 811, sponsored by State Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, allows legal action against organizations that knowingly provide extended housing to undocumented immigrants who later commit crimes.
“This is a public safety bill that aligns with the Trump administration’s renewed focus on illegal immigration,” Grills said. “It requires nongovernmental organizations to be more vigilant in their vetting and supervision.”
The bill defines housing as long-term living arrangements, including assistance in securing or signing leases for apartments or rental homes. It does not apply to short-term or overnight stays, such as those offered by homeless shelters.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and removed 26,606 undocumented immigrants from Oct 1. to Dec. 31, 2024. Of those, 14,842 had prior criminal convictions in the United States and 7,886 had pending criminal charges in the U.S.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports that illegal aliens with a previous criminal history have committed 5,944 known crimes nationwide from Oct 1, 2024. to March 31, 2025, including 861 driving under the influence (DUI) charges, 519 drug possession or trafficking offenses, nine homicides and 375 assault, battery or domestic violence charges.
House Bill 811 now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.