A bill has been introduced by Tennessee state lawmakers that would give school districts and law enforcement agencies the authority to reject enrollment for undocumented migrant students. S.B. 836 specifies that a law enforcement agency or public charter school “may admit or decline admission to a student who is unlawfully present in the United States.” Republican Sen. Bo Watson, the bill’s sponsor, stated that the intention behind the proposal is to cut costs for the state. An amendment was made to the bill, allowing school districts the choice to charge tuition for a student’s enrollment rather than making it mandatory, as reported by Fox Chattanooga.
In contrast to the bill, the 1981 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe mandates that states must provide funding for all students seeking a public education, regardless of their immigration status. Immigration attorney Brittany Faith criticized the bill as unconstitutional, suggesting that it was introduced to challenge the Plyler v. Doe ruling. Faith emphasized the unfairness of the tuition option, pointing out that Tennessee’s tax system relies on sales tax, meaning undocumented individuals contribute equally to the public education system through their taxes.
