Andy Humbles

ahumbles@tennessean.com

Mt. Juliet commissioners have declared the city will uphold federal immigration laws and does not want those who entered the country illegally living within its boundaries.

The commission approved a proclamation earlier this week that Mt. Juliet won’t be a “sanctuary city,” a term used to describe a city in the United States that uses policies to limit collaboration with federal immigration enforcement. The resolution is not enforceable legislation.

“It’s a statement saying Mt. Juliet is unanimous on this issue," said Mt. Juliet Mayor Ed Hagerty. "We’re all about legal immigration, but we’re not about illegal immigrants and refuse to be a sanctuary city.

“I think it’s a very universal view that sanctuary cities shouldn’t be part of the United States of America and certainly not in Tennessee," he said.

The resolution states “it is the responsibility of all levels of government to fully support the Federal Government in the exercise of its obligations under the law pertaining to immigration.”

"It's clear that the author of this resolution is unfamiliar with our nation's immigration laws, which Congress has failed to update in more than two decades,” said Stephanie Teatro, co-executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. “It is our outdated laws that are the problem, not families trying to build a better life in Mt. Juliet.

"All residents should be concerned that the city has essentially told their neighbors that they should fear calling the police or fire department, taking their children to school or to the health department. We urge city officials to immediately reassure their residents that city employees are not, in fact, immigration officials."

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The resolution also states that “Mt. Juliet fully supports and welcomes legal immigrants, illegal immigrants impose burdens on the citizens and legal residents of Mt. Juliet which include decreased job opportunities, increased fiscal costs for education, law enforcement, healthcare, and other social services.”

Commissioner Ray Justice also requested a copy of the resolution be sent to the Wilson County government and Gov. Bill Haslam's office. Justice is a former Wilson County sheriff's deputy who said those in the country illegally drain law enforcement resources.

“Someone who is an immigrant in our country, in our county, in our city legally, they are welcome with open arms,” Justice said. “Those who choose the illegal route I have a problem with. By the very definition they are illegal."

Vice Mayor James Maness sponsored the resolution, which passed 5-0.

"It really just says we're going to follow the law," Maness said.

Reach Andy Humbles at 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @AndyHumbles.