Tennesse Refugee Lawsuit is Dismissed by a Federal Judge

Just one day ago, a federal judge dismissed a Tennessee lawsuit, appearing in March of last year, that was accusing the federal government of violating the 10th amendment by forcing them to take refugees. Tennessee argued that the government was not complying with the Refugee Act of 1980 and wanted to opt out of resettlement programs. However refugees have continued to enter Tennessee under the Catholic Charities of Tennessee. The federal government threatened to cut seven billion in medicaid funds to the state if it does not comply, and the state currently cannot take a blow like that. Tennessee lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the lawsuit last year, why? I think the southern states, including Tennessee, are more fearful and hateful than their northern counterparts, perhaps because they are closer to a border where immigrants are coming in. This finds its way into politics, and then negative biases/stereotypes end up having real life negative impacts on refugees quality of life through policy. Regardless, I think the federal government has the right to place refugees where they see fit. The 10th amendment gives powers not granted in the constitution to states, but when they constitution was drafted, refugees were not nearly as prevalent of a problem, at least in America. If masses had been fleeing to America at the time, maybe the founding fathers or whomever would've included it in the constitution. The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition have openly spoken out against the lawsuit, saying it will "negatively affect the state's refugee community and perpetuate a culture of fear" (Ebert). Today, (March 20th) more than 40 refugees are meeting with legislators in Nashville to discuss how resettlement has changed their lives. It's important for lawmakers to hear these stories, because I think it's easy for them to succumb to groupthink and forget that the individuals are just looking for better lives. Lawmakers have yet to comment on the dismissal, but it has generally been viewed as a victory by refugees and social activists. In the future, I do not doubt that Tennessee or other states will try to prevent refugee processions. But I am hopeful that in light of this government administration, public opinion has been more left leaning and many POC and women are running for elections to block actions like that in the future.

References
Ebert, Joel. “Federal Judge Dismisses Tennessee's Lawsuit Seeking to Halt Refugee Resettlement.”
The Tennessean, 19 Mar. 2018.
Stempel, Jonathan. “U.S. Judge Dismisses Tennessee Refugee Resettlement Lawsuit.” Reuters, 19 Mar. 2018.