Why Nashville Has Some of the Strictest Immigration Policy in the State

Nashville maintains 203 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with immigration policy. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Nashville falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

E-Verify Mandates

Tennessee requires all employers with 35 or more employees to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm new hire work eligibility under TCA 50-1-703. Nashville businesses face state penalties for noncompliance.

Key details: Mandatory threshold: 35+ employees. Authority: TCA 50-1-703. Verification window: 3 business days. Second-violation fine: $500/day per worker. Smaller employers: E-Verify or document retention.

First violation triggers a written warning. Second violation within three years carries fines of $500 per day per unverified worker. Third violation can suspend the business license. Knowingly hiring unauthorized workers risks license revocation under TCA 50-1-101.

Compared to other cities, Nashville takes a harder line on e-verify mandates. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Sanctuary Policy Preemption

Nashville cannot adopt sanctuary city policies. Tennessee TCA 7-68-101 prohibits local jurisdictions from limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities and authorizes funding cuts for noncompliance.

Key details: TN sanctuary ban: TCA 7-68-101 et seq. ICE detainer compliance: Required. 287(g) jail program: Ended 2012. Funding penalty: State grant loss. Welcoming city resolution: Nonbinding only.

Local jurisdictions adopting sanctuary policies face termination of state economic and community development grants under TCA 7-68-104. Individual officials authorizing noncompliance can face civil penalties, and Tennessee Attorney General may seek injunctive relief.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Nashville actively enforces its sanctuary policy preemption requirements.

The Bottom Line

Nashville is tougher than many cities when it comes to immigration policy. Out of the 2 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Nashville, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Nashville's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.