Tennessee community groups, faith Leaders and Immigrant advocates spoke ahead of federal court hearing in a challenge to a Tennessee law criminalizing "harboring" immigrants without legal status on Wednesday Sept. 10, 2025. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

A legal challenge to a new state law that criminalizes the act of concealing or sheltering individuals illegally in the country had its first day in court Wednesday as a federal judge weighed a motion to temporarily block portions of the legislation as the case goes forward.

The Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America filed suit against the Tennessee law just days before it took effect July 1.

The denomination argued the law, passed as part of a Republican effort to align state policy with the Trump a

See Full Page