Federal judge denies petition by Lutheran churches to block Tennessee “harboring” immigrants law

By: Anita Wadhwani

Outlets: Tennessee Lookout

Published: March 31, 2026

Words: 315

Last Updated: 4 months ago

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A federal judge has denied a petition brought by Lutheran churches to temporarily block a Tennessee law making it a crime to harbor immigrants without legal status.

Republican lawmakers in April 2025 enacted the Human Smuggling Act, which created a felony for knowingly transporting or harboring immigrants without legal status. The law also created a misdemeanor crime for those who “harbor or hide” immigrants in the country illegally.

The Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical …

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