Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has brought to light a significant plan involving the Biden-Harris administration, where an effort to release a substantial number of migrants into the state was stopped after state officials pushed back.
The move to prevent the release of migrants in Tennessee did not stop over 7,000 such individuals from being released from Louisiana facilities, raising security concerns, as the Daily Caller reports.
Skrmetti's discovery of the initiative came through thorough investigation, which revealed that the administration intended to collaborate with local authorities and nonprofits to facilitate this migrant relocation before the end of Title 42. Gov. Bill Lee, alongside a host of lawmakers, strongly opposed this plan, leading to its halt regarding Tennessee.
The discovery of the plan was primarily sparked by a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request initiated by Skrmetti's office. This request unearthed documents detailing the administration's collaboration with organizations like the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and Home is Here NOLA.
Emails between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), local groups, and the office of Nashville's mayor showcased logistical planning efforts to ensure smooth transit and settlement for these immigrants. The communication was clear in its intent to manage the situation locally, which was intervened by state officials.
Despite opposing the strategy's implementation in Tennessee, more than 7,000 detainees were still released from ICE facilities in Louisiana. These included individuals with violent criminal backgrounds, escalating concerns over public safety across affected communities.
Multiple serious criminal allegations were tied to these released detainees, including murder, kidnapping, rape, and drug trafficking, according to sources obtained under Skrmetti's investigation.
The attorney general expressed his profound concerns about these revelations, emphasizing the federal government's duty to safeguard its citizens. Jonathan Skrmetti remarked on the troubling nature of dangerous individuals, like homicide and sexual assault offenders, being free across U.S. cities.
He stressed the need for continued efforts in Congress to address the broken immigration system while reinforcing his commitment to chasing transparency and accountability at the federal level. "The information further reveals that although ICE abandoned its failed plan for the mass release of detainees into Tennessee, the agency nonetheless released over 7,000 detainees directly from its Louisiana facilities at that time, including more than 30 who were assigned ICE’s highest security-threat level," said Skrmetti.
There has been no official communication from the White House in response to these findings. The lack of commentary leaves many questions unanswered regarding federal immigration policies and their execution.
Under the Biden-Harris leadership, reported encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have reached roughly 8.5 million, highlighting ongoing challenges and pressures the current administration faces in managing border security and immigration policy.
The Tennessee attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit demanding detailed explanations, as the documental evidence and email correspondences signaled an undermining of state authority and public safety. Skrmetti has vocalized his plea for explanations and reparative measures going forward.
The scenario underscores the critical nature of state and federal cooperation, not only in maintaining clarity and security within immigration processes but also in perpetuating trust and transparent governance decisions.
