Bill Lee’s plan to use state resources to enforce state immigration, costs Tennessee taxpayers $20 million a year, an analysis from the state’s Financial Review Board found.

The price tag includes more than $560,000 to establish and run a four-person “intensive immigration enforcement unit” that will serve as liaisons with the US government to enforce immigration laws.

The grant program, which funds local law enforcement, costs $20 million a year when it signs a so-called 287(g) contract with the federal government to enforce immigration law, the analysis found.

“Tennessee keeps the phone in mind”: Lee advances immigration agenda in special session

Earlier this month, Lee made a surprising announcement that the Immigration Enforcement Act would be considered part of a special session of the Tennessee Legislature, which was convened Monday. The session also considers Lee’s controversial private school voucher plans and disaster recovery funds for the northeastern Tennessee county that was hit by the inland Hurricane Helen.

Immigration enforcement has long been the responsibility of the federal government and has been paid by federal funds. Lee’s proposal, if approved by Congress, would be the first substantial use of the Tennessee taxpayer dollar to enforce US immigration laws within the state.

Lee’s proposal – a broad package that includes criminal penalties for local officials who vote in favor of the Sanctuary Policy for Immigration and add unique markings to state licenses and IDs issued to legal immigrants. elicited an imposed by Democrats who characterized it as a political trick. Distractions from Lee’s school voucher plan.

Immigration advocates called Lee’s plan “extreme” and said they appear to be further moving towards asserting state power over immigration enforcement than any other non-state.

Lee said the proposal was “to ensure that President Trump is ready to help him carry out his immigration enforcement agenda.”

Congress is scheduled to discuss the bill this week.

Immigration Planning Financial Notes