The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Davidson County Chancery Court against the Tennessee Highway Patrol, alleging troopers have unlawfully collaborated with federal immigration agents during traffic stops.
According to the lawsuit, TIRRC and several taxpayer plaintiffs claim the Highway Patrol has increasingly worked alongside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stop motorists for the purpose of investigating immigration status.
The lawsuit alleges THP directed troopers to conduct traffic stops “for the ulterior purpose of looking for civil immigration violations,” which plaintiffs argue violates constitutional protections against unreasonable seizures and racial profiling…