Refugee Push-Back

Tennessee appeals earlier dismissal of States’ Rights Refugee case, by Ann Corcoran 5/11/18
 
When the lawsuit was filed in March 2017, Tennessee became the first state in the nation to sue the federal government on the matter using such grounds.

The only state in the nation to attempt to get some control back for the state when the federal government sends them refugees is appealing an earlier decision by a judge to dismiss the case.

This is the latest from the Tennessean: Tennessee is appealing a federal judge’s dismissal of a lawsuit against the federal government over refugee resettlement.

The Thomas More Law Center, which is representing the state in the case, filed a notice of appeal with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee on Thursday.  The case comes after state lawmakers approved a resolution in 2016 ordering the lawsuit.

Stephanie Teatro, co-executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, said the state’s appeal will “continue dragging our state’s reputation through the mud.”

In the case, Tennessee alleged the federal government violated the 10th Amendment, which says the federal government only possesses the powers delegated to it by the U.S. Constitution and that all other powers are reserved for the states.

Tennessee argued that the federal government was not complying with the Refugee Act of 1980, which was designed to create a permanent procedure for the admission of refugees into the United States.

Lawmakers have previously said the lawsuit is necessary to halt all refugee resettlement to the state until all associated costs are paid by the federal government.

Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition have frequently slammed the lawsuit, saying it will negatively affect the state’s refugee community and perpetuate a culture of fear. More here. See the statement from the Thomas More Law Center by clicking here.

See all of my posts on Tennessee/Tenth Amendment.

And, learn more about the problems with refugees in Tennessee at my huge Tennessee archive here.  You will find a lot of meatpacker stories among those posts.

https://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/tennessee-appeals-earlier-dismissal-of-states-rights-refugee-case/

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader