Tennessee
Angry protests erupt in Tennessee house over migrant school bill
Protests erupted in the Tennessee House of Representatives on Tuesday over legislation that would allow public schools to bar migrant children without legal status from receiving an education.
Why It Matters
Tennessee is among several Republican-led states seeking to implement legislation aligned with President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda.
The 1982 Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe established that denying children access to public education based on their immigration status was unconstitutional. The 5-4 ruling has ensured that children, regardless of their legal status, have the right to attend public schools. However, some conservative lawmakers have challenged the ruling by seeking to end this right for undocumented immigrants.
George Walker IV/AP
What To Know
Last month, Republican House Majority Leader William Lamberth introduced a bill that would grant public K-12 and charter schools in Tennessee the discretion to accept or deny enrollment to students who could not provide proof of legal immigration status.
On Tuesday, the bill advanced through the House K-12 subcommittee, and protesters gathered outside the hallway of the meeting room to express a strong opposition to the bill, chanting, “Shame on you” and “Shut it down.”
The bill was approved in a 5-3 vote, with opposition from the committee’s two Democrats—Representative Yusuf Hakeem of Chattanooga and Representative Sam McKenzie of Knoxville—and Republican Representative Mark White of Memphis.
House Bill 793 would allow school districts and public charter schools to “enroll, or refuse to enroll, a student who is unlawfully present in the United States.”
The bill differs from its companion measure in the Tennessee Senate, sponsored by Senator Bo Watson, a Republican from Hixson. Amended last week, the Senate version would require public schools to verify students’ immigration status. Schools would then be allowed to charge tuition for children who could not prove lawful reside in the United States.
According to the Tennessee Lookout, Giselle Huerta, a co-founder of the child advocacy group Hijos de Inmigrantes, pleaded her case with lawmakers to oppose the bill.
“Is this the Tennessee we want to be, a state that turns its back on children who pledge allegiance to our flag every morning?” she said, according to the outlet.
Lamberth reportedly called it “false hope” to provide an education to children who would go on to face barriers to their professional dreams as adults because of their immigration status.
What People Are Saying
Tennessee House Majority Leader William Lamberth, the bill’s sponsor, said, as quoted in the Tennessee Lookout: “It is false hope to give children the best education available in the world and then tell them they can be licensed professionals, they can be licensed doctors, they can be lawyers, they can be accountants, they can run for office, because it is not true.”
“If they are illegally present, their dreams at some point will have a ceiling and that is inappropriate.”
Damien Felipe Jimenez, a sixth grader in Knoxville, shared his goal of becoming a restaurant owner or scientist with legislators, the outlet said: “I am the son of immigrant parents who have shown me to respect and value everyone. Just like me and all the kids in this country, we have the right to dream and make those dreams come true. The right to an education should not be taken away from us because of our immigration status.”
Giselle Huerta, a co-founder of Hijos de Inmigrantes, said, according to the outlet: “Think about the message we are sending to young children who have known no other home but Tennessee—that they don’t deserve an education, that they don’t belong in a classroom alongside their friends and neighbors.”
Tennessee state Senator Heidi Campbell, a Democrat, told Newsweek in February: “Using government power to single out children and deny them an education is as cruel as it gets. House Bill 793 is the latest moral failure in a state where it’s getting hard to count them all. No child should be punished for where they were born. Wielding state power to discriminate against kids is indefensible. We should be ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn—not deciding which ones deserve a desk in the classroom.”
Tanya T. Coats, the president of the Tennessee Education Association, told Newsweek last month: “The job of Tennessee’s public-school educators is to educate every student who walks through the doors of our great public schools. We ask the General Assembly to not involve educators in making decisions about the legal status of our students or their families.”
What Happens Next
The bill’s next stop is the House Education Committee and the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, though those hearings have not yet been scheduled.
If passed, the bill would likely face legal challenges from civil rights organizations as it conflicts with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Plyler v. Doe.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Tennessee Volunteers baseball team dropped game two to Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon, 8-1. The Rebels clinch the series, the first time Ole Miss has won a series in Knoxville since 2016.
A bright spot for the Vols was Tegan Kuhns who threw 5.2 innings not allowing a run, striking out 10 batters on five hits.
Cam Appenzeller picked up his first loss of the season coming in out of the bullpen for Kuhns. The SEC Freshman of the Week did not have a great outing. Appenzeller went 2.1 innings giving up six earned runs.
Tennessee escaped a shutout as Trent Grindlinger hit a solo home run in the ninth inning. Grindlinger’s home run was one of Tennessee’s two hits on the night.
The Volunteers look to avoid the series sweep as theY round out the series with Ole Miss on Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on the SEC Network+.
Copyright 2026 WVLT. All rights reserved.
Tennessee (25-13, 7-9 SEC) will continue a three-game home baseball series on Saturday. The Vols will host No. 23 Ole Miss (28-11, 9-7 SEC) at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
Ole Miss won Game 1 on Friday, 7-4.
Saturday’s Game 2 was scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT. Due to possible inclement weather on Saturday, first pitch for Game 2 will take place at 4 p.m. EDT.
“Due to the chance of inclement weather tomorrow night, tomorrow’s game versus Ole Miss will now start at 4 p.m. EDT,” Tennessee announced on Friday.
Below is how to watch information for Saturday’s Tennessee-Ole Miss Game 2.
What channel is Tennessee versus Ole Miss baseball on?
- TV channel: SEC Network+
- Livestream: Watch live on SECN+
- Announcers: Myan Patel (play-by-play) and Cody Hawn (analyst)
Watch Tennessee baseball live
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Tennessee
Everything Tennessee HC Josh Elander Said Following Series-Opening Loss At Ole Miss | Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee baseball dropped its series opener against Ole Miss, 7-4, on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols bats were quiet and could not find enough to overcome a mid game deficit.
Following the game, Tennessee head coach Josh Elander discussed Landon Mack’s start, young bullpen arms impressing and much more. Here’s everything Elander said.
More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball Moves Up First Pitch Time For Saturday Game Against Ole Miss
On what went sideways for Landon Mack
“I just thought some of the big fellas didn’t miss some pitches. Those balls were both really touched. The one that was hit to right center, and I think it was Mr. Utermark after the fact. And had them kind of in between early but they landed on a few right there. Again, competing over the white, we’ll take it. But they were able to scatter some hits around it. You have some free passes here and there that we don’t need to give up. And just credit to Mississippi’s hitters because they landed on those pretty good.”
On what Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott did well
“Just being a crafty vet. I mean, he was throwing some change ups. His slider-cutter was kind of blending tonight. Sometimes it had 11 inches horizontal, sometimes eight. Three almost backing up a little bit. But that’s a guy that knows how to pitch in this league. There’s a reason he throws on Friday night for that club, and we had two chances to get him. We punch out one time and hit into a double play the other. And I’ve always told the offense, these guys know on Friday night, you usually have one chance to get that guy, and if you don’t get him, you’re going to be in trouble (and) playing from behind the whole time. But credit to him. He did a good job of getting all the way through six, but then good job by our crew to kind of punch back and get (Walker) Hooks in the game. It’s a guy they have a lot of confidence in, and they’re going to have to bring him back at some point. So that was the one positive down there late.”
On young bullpen arms throwing well
“It was really good. I mean, I’ve continued to challenge those guys. We want to be able to kind of mix and match and have some options there. I thought Abraham did a really good job against the middle of the meat of the order. And then Chandler Day, just to see him pitch with emotion. And it was really cool. I mean, those three come in and punch out three guys. It was really, really good with the different look that he brings. And then Will Haas, I was really excited about. 93 (mph) and really running that heater. Completely different look from Chandler Day. So he’s a guy that I said on the radio a minute ago— we didn’t ever know if he was going to show up as well as he was thrown down the stretch (of his high school career). Gets hurt and ends up making it to campus, but he seems to continue to get better and better as he gets further away from being cleared. And that is definitely a big positive from the end of tonight, is having those two lefties, how they threw the ball.”
On Tennessee sophomore Jay Abernathy going 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored
“Just playing baseball, and then we talked to him, he’s got to keep that ball in front. He knows that. Makes a good play on the backhand early in the game, but does a good job of beating a cutter to the spot and driving it out of the yard. He’s just an easy guy to bet on. Good makeup, and it’s nice to see him having some success, because stuck with him for a while, because we expect him to be able to have success in this league, and I know he believes that, too. So we need him to continue to string some things together because if he can play good defense, keep it in front on the dirt, and then in the outfield, he’s dynamic out there in centerfield, too.”
On where Tennessee third baseman Henry Ford is physically after dealing with an illness for several weeks, if he’s still hampered by it
“I think so. It was a grind. His toughness was really cool to see, how he grinded through that. A lot of guys would have taken some time off, and he continues to work incredibly hard on defense. He’s come a long way, really, with Coach (Ross) Kivett and what those two have done together, but it seems like right now, a little bit of being in between (at the plate). There’s some sliders, he’s running out of bat, but again, he’s a guy that we expect — we’re going to leave him right there and let him do his deal, and he can change the game in one swing. And hey, two for four tonight. Would like to have maybe a little bit better at-bat late, but he’s a guy that, he’s a winner, and I’m glad he’s a Tennessee Vol.”
On if he anticipates using injured Tennessee catcher Stone Lawless (facial fractures) either of the next two days
“We’ll see. You know, the last box I wanted to get checked tonight was to actually catch live pitching. We were able to get him some live ABs yesterday. He got completely cleared by the doctors. Arm feels good, body feels good, so I’ll talk with the staff, and we’ll look at some matchup stuff for tomorrow. But yeah, he’s a guy that just the way he receives the baseball, whether it be framing runs above average or whatnot, he makes an impact on the game just by how he catches the baseball. So we’ll look at that, but we just want to make sure we put him in a good spot to have success. And anytime you have any kind of orbital deal or whatnot, I just want to be careful with it.”
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