Tennessee Bill Threatens to Expel Undocumented Students, Targets Plyler v. Doe in Heritage Foundation-Led National Push

Tennessee Republicans are advancing legislation that could force undocumented children out of public schools and compel school administrators to act as immigration informants against their students. This positions Tennessee at the forefront of a Heritage Foundation-led campaign to undermine the constitutional right to public education. The proposed "trigger laws," scheduled for committee review, directly challenge Plyler v. Doe, the 1982 Supreme Court ruling that guarantees free K–12 public education regardless of immigration status. The bills would also likely violate federal statutes codifying this right. The Heritage Foundation, architect of Project 2025, has explicitly urged other states to enact similar laws to overturn Plyler, framing Tennessee's effort as the opening salvo in a national movement. Lora Ries, director of Heritage’s Border Security and Immigration Center, argued in a February 17 post that "illegal aliens should not be eligible for federal, state, or local government benefits, including through their children," claiming such benefits prolong unlawful residence and divert resources from citizens and lawful immigrants. To date, six states—Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho, Indiana, New Jersey, and Tennessee—have introduced bills violating Plyler. If enacted, their implementation could dismantle public education as it exists, setting a precedent for widespread exclusion and transforming schools into extensions of immigration enforcement.