Tennessee Sued Over Highway Patrol ICE Collaboration
Attorneys debated a lawsuit seeking to block Tennessee troopers from conducting joint traffic patrols with ICE agents.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Immigration
Live Poll
Should state police agencies cooperate with federal ICE agents during routine traffic patrols?
The Tennessee Immigrant Refugee Rights Coalition has sued the Tennessee Highway Patrol, seeking to end the practice of state troopers facilitating immigration enforcement during routine traffic stops. The lawsuit, which includes seven plaintiffs and Metro Nashville Council member Terry Vo, follows operations where ICE agents accompanied officers.
Why it matters
The case challenges the legality of state law enforcement resources being used to assist in federal immigration detention. While advocates argue the practice oversteps state authority, government attorneys maintain that these partnerships function as public safety tools similar to drug-sniffing canine units.
The lawsuit names seven individual plaintiffs and the Tennessee Department of Homeland Safety and Security as parties in the ongoing litigation. The court has yet to issue a final judgment on the practice of conducting immigration checks during stops.
The players
Tennessee Immigrant Refugee Rights Coalition
This advocacy group filed the lawsuit to challenge the state's involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
Terry Vo
He is a Metro Nashville Council member who serves as a named plaintiff in the legal challenge against the state.
Aleta Trauger
She is the U.S. District Judge overseeing the case and has indicated she intends to issue a decision quickly.
Matt Perry
As a Colonel, he is named as a defendant in the lawsuit regarding his oversight of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Jeff Long
He serves as the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Homeland Safety and Security and is a named defendant.
The details
Troopers allegedly conduct traffic stops for minor violations, such as tinted windows, which then allows partnered ICE agents to question drivers about their immigration status. The practice is currently active in Memphis through the Memphis Safe Task Force.
Timeline
May 2025: ICE agents participated in a Nashville immigration operation.
May 2026: The Tennessee Immigrant Refugee Rights Coalition filed the lawsuit.
September 22, 2026: Lawyers debated the case in a Nashville federal courthouse.
Political Context
The lawsuit challenges the operational scope of the Memphis Safe Task Force by questioning the state's authority to integrate federal agents into local traffic stops. Opponents of the practice, including various civil rights groups, argue that these partnerships effectively turn local roads into immigration checkpoints, undermining trust in local law enforcement.
Residents may see changes in police enforcement protocols if the court mandates a separation between state traffic duties and federal immigration work. The outcome of the litigation could impact how local law enforcement interacts with the public during standard traffic stops throughout the state.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing tension between state-level police powers and federal immigration enforcement priorities. Residents should remain aware of their rights during traffic stops as the legal status of joint federal-state operations remains subject to judicial review.
Further reading
For more background on the state's evolving legal landscape, read our Immigration section.
Live Poll
Should state police agencies cooperate with federal ICE agents during routine traffic patrols?
