1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

The recently passed SB6002 bill raises serious constitutional concerns by potentially criminalizing elected officials for representing the views of their constituents. Penalizing lawmakers for taking policy positions or voting in accordance with the will of those they represent undermines core democratic principles and the ability of citizens to have their voices heard through their elected representatives. While immigration is a complex issue, threatening legislators with felony charges for adopting "sanctuary" policies that provide protections for undocumented immigrants living in their communities infringes on their constitutional duty to advocate for the needs and interests of their constituents as they see fit. This heavy-handed approach chills free speech and public discourse on a divisive topic where reasonable minds may differ. I urge you to carefully review the constitutional implications of this legislation and consider whether criminal penalties and removal of officials for certain policy stances aligns with our nation's foundational values of representative democracy and freedom of political expression.