Tennessee could face economic fallout from mass deportations, according to a new report, as state lawmakers continue work with the Trump administration on proposals to tighten immigration enforcement.

A new bill introduced in January would give local agencies more authority to cooperate with federal officials on detention and deportation. Of Tennessee's 7.2 million residents, more than 473,000 are immigrants.

David Kallick, director of the Immigration Research Initiative, said immigrants run about 10% of the state's businesses and are a large part of the labor force. He believes deportations could reduce jobs and tax revenue.

"We can expect that, if you start to deport large numbers, you're going to see across-the-board impacts on the state economy but particular impacts in some areas," Kallick outlined. "Certainly in construction work, care workers – like housekeepers and home health aides – in farming, of course, and in restaurants."

House Bill 1711 requires schools, hospitals, universities, local governments, and other public entities to verify and report immigration status. Lawmakers said it is part of the effort to measure the cost of services for undocumented residents. It is on the calendar for the State and Local Government Committee on March 11.

Kallick pointed out a recent Cato Institute report shows immigrants in Tennessee pay more in taxes than the value of the public services they use, and it holds true for all immigrants, including noncitizens and undocumented residents. He believes creating a hostile environment toward them harms communities across the state.

"People who are undocumented pay $314 million annually in taxes to Tennessee, in particular, state and local taxes, just in Tennessee," Kallick emphasized. "That's revenue that supports schools and health care and essential services for all of us, including some services that those immigrants are themselves excluded from."

The report also examined the potential economic impact on women in Tennessee. It noted many families - particularly women - depend on child care providers, elder care aides and other support workers, many of whom are immigrants.

If the number of immigrants declines, the supply of care workers is likely to shrink as well, which could make it harder for family caregivers to maintain jobs outside the home, increasing economic pressure on working families.

Source: Public News Service