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.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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Vanderbilt basketball guard Frankie Collins is leaving the program, head coach Mark Byington announced on Tuesday night. The news comes just days before the Commodores are set to face off against Tennessee in the regular season finale, with the Volunteers looking to clinch a top-four seed and double-bye in the SEC Tournament.
Why it matters
Collins was Vanderbilt’s most highly touted transfer last offseason, but injuries limited him to just nine games this season. His departure leaves the Commodores shorthanded heading into a crucial matchup against their in-state rival Tennessee, who are seeking to complete a regular season sweep.
The details
The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 7.8 points, 4.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game this season, but suffered a meniscus injury in December that sidelined him for the majority of the year. With the emergence of sophomore point guard Tyler Tanner and Oklahoma transfer Duke Miles, Collins never quite found his footing in the Vanderbilt lineup.
- Frankie Collins left the Vanderbilt program on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
- Vanderbilt is scheduled to face Tennessee on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
The players
Frankie Collins
A 6-foot-1 guard who was Vanderbilt’s most highly touted transfer last offseason, coming to Nashville after spending the 2024-25 season at TCU and the three prior years at Arizona State and Michigan.
Mark Byington
The head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores basketball team.
Tyler Tanner
The sophomore point guard who emerged as a key player for Vanderbilt this season.
Duke Miles
An Oklahoma transfer shooting guard who joined the Vanderbilt roster this season.
Rick Barnes
The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team.
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What they’re saying
“Frankie has left Nashville, and he’s not gonna be on the team. It’s gonna be good for both sides of it. We wish him well. So we’ll roll with the guys we got.”
— Mark Byington, Head Coach, Vanderbilt Commodores (rockytopinsider.com)
What’s next
With a victory over Vanderbilt, Tennessee will clinch a top four-seed and a double-bye in next week’s SEC Tournament. Vanderbilt could potentially earn a double-bye themselves with a win and a little extra help.
The takeaway
The loss of Frankie Collins leaves Vanderbilt shorthanded heading into a crucial matchup against in-state rival Tennessee, who are seeking to complete a regular season sweep. The Commodores will have to rely on the emergence of players like Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles to try and pull off the upset and keep their own postseason hopes alive.
Published on Mar. 3, 2026
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According to ESPN’s latest NFL mock draft, three former Tennessee Volunteers players are projected to be selected in the top 60 picks of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood are both projected to be first-round picks, while wide receiver Chris Brazzell II is projected to be a second-round selection.
Why it matters
The strong NFL Draft projections for Tennessee players highlight the continued talent development and success of the Volunteers football program under head coach Josh Heupel. If these projections hold true, it would mark the first time Tennessee has had two first-round picks and three players selected in the top 60 overall during Heupel’s tenure.
The details
Cornerback Jermod McCoy is projected to be selected 29th overall by the Los Angeles Rams, despite not participating in on-field workouts at the NFL Combine due to a previous ACL injury. Teammate Colton Hood is projected to be the final pick of the first round, going 32nd overall to the Seattle Seahawks. Wide receiver Chris Brazzell II impressed at the Combine with a 4.37 40-yard dash and is projected to be a second-round pick, going 60th overall to the Buffalo Bills.
- The NFL Combine was held in late February 2026.
- Tennessee’s Pro Day workouts are scheduled for the end of March 2026.
- The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in April-May 2026.
The players
Jermod McCoy
A cornerback for the Tennessee Volunteers who is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite missing the 2025 season due to an ACL injury.
Colton Hood
A cornerback for the Tennessee Volunteers who is projected to be a first-round pick, going 32nd overall to the Seattle Seahawks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Chris Brazzell II
A wide receiver for the Tennessee Volunteers who impressed at the NFL Combine with a 4.37 40-yard dash and is projected to be a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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What they’re saying
“If we’re going strictly by talent, McCoy is a top-10 prospect in this class. But he hasn’t played a game since 2024, missing all of last season after suffering an ACL tear in January 2025. We’re still not sure where he’s at in his recovery, as he did not participate in testing or drills at the combine. This gives the Rams — who haven’t drafted a corner in the first round since 2006 or before Day 3 since 2019 — the potential to get a steal here. McCoy is an easy mover who has squeaky-clean technique.”
— Jordan Reid, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)
“The reigning champions have a clear need at corner, as Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen are both scheduled to be free agents. Hood is a scheme-versatile player who can thrive in press man while also having the fluidity to excel in zone. A former all-state center fielder in high school, Hood’s ball skills frequently show up on tape (10 pass breakups and an interception last season). With his poised technique and wrap-up-and-finish tackling, he would fit well on the outside of Mike Macdonald’s secondary.”
— Jordan Reid, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)
“The Bills need someone who can separate on the outside, and Brazzell is an ‘X’ receiver who can be a deep vertical threat. He can also sink his weight and run a true route tree, making him a good fit with quarterback Josh Allen.”
— Jordan Reid, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)
What’s next
Tennessee’s Pro Day workouts are scheduled for the end of March 2026, where McCoy plans to participate in on-field drills to further showcase his recovery from the ACL injury. Strong performances at the Pro Day could potentially push McCoy back up draft boards into the top half of the first round.
The takeaway
The strong NFL Draft projections for Tennessee players demonstrate the continued talent development and success of the Volunteers football program under head coach Josh Heupel. If these projections hold true, it would mark a significant milestone for the program, with Tennessee potentially having two first-round picks and three players selected in the top 60 overall for the first time during Heupel’s tenure.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WCYB) — Tennessee Athletics’ “Big Orange Caravan” presented by Pilot will roll into the Tri-Cities on April 30, bringing some of the university’s most recognizable faces to Kingsport.
The statewide tour, a collaboration between Tennessee Athletics and the UT Knoxville Office of Alumni Affairs, features Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White, men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes, women’s basketball coach Kim Caldwell, head football coach Josh Heupel and “Voice of the Vols” Mike Keith.
The Tri-Cities stop is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, at Meadowview Convention Center, 1901 Meadowview Parkway, Kingsport, Tennessee. Doors open at 5 p.m., followed by a meet-and-greet session with the headliners from 5:30-6:15 p.m. The program begins at 6:15 p.m.
Hosted by Keith, the evening will include stories, program insight and a question-and-answer session with Tennessee’s athletics leaders and coaches. The UT Spirit Squads also will be in attendance.
Tickets are $30, plus taxes and fees, and include light food options. A cash bar, along with additional light food and appetizers, will be available.
Of each ticket sold, $5 will benefit the local UT Alumni chapter’s scholarship endowment and $10 will go toward the My All Campaign.
The Tri-Cities event is the final stop of the three-city spring tour. The caravan opens in Chattanooga on April 28 before heading to Nashville on April 29. As announced last spring, Chattanooga and Memphis will alternate as tour stops each year.
The Big Orange Caravan is designed to connect Tennessee coaches and administrators with fans across the state, offering behind-the-scenes insight and celebrating the support of the Volunteer community.
Tickets for the Tri-Cities stop can be purchased at https://www.gofevo.com/event/BOCTriCities26
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