Tennessee solves a worker shortage by helping ‘Dreamers’
A Republican senator and Democratic representative joined forces to persuade their colleagues to let DACA recipients apply for professional and commercial licenses
Republican and Democratic lawmakers carefully and quietly approved legislation recently that allows “Dreamers” to become licensed professionals in Tennessee.
The passage of Senate Bill 2464/ House Bill 2309 is an unusual success story primarily because it was a bipartisan-led effort that combined compassion and common sense to address the state’s worker shortage while navigating the incendiary politics around immigration.
“Dreamers” are the beneficiaries of the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that allows qualified undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as minors the legal right to work, drive and obtain a Social Security card.
However, Tennessee currently prohibits people who are not citizens or “lawfully present” (i.e., a green card) from applying for professional and commercial licenses, such as in cosmetology, nursing and teaching. The bill does not change the standards but removes barriers.
In Tennessee, there are 7,300 “Dreamers,” according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and as many as 10,000 are eligible for DACA.
The state’s unemployment rate has been steadily decreasing and dropped to its lowest rate ever of 3.2% in March, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The USA TODAY Network Tennessee has reported story after story about state’s labor shortage.
Thus, lawmakers are solving a problem for businesses and eager workers.
Why a Republican and Democrat collaborated on the bill
On April 11, the House bill, sponsored by Rep. Bob Freeman, D-nashville, passed by a vote of 56-35. Three days later, senators voted 20-7 to pass the bill sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Shane Reeves, R-murfreesboro.
The legislation is over to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration to be signed into law.
In a guest opinion column in the USA TODAY Network Tennessee on Monday, Reeves wrote: “This legislation is consistent with conservative principles because it allows disadvantaged youth to earn a better living and pay taxes rather than signing up for government entitlement programs.”
In an email response to my questions, Freeman called the legislation “pro-business, pro-worker and profamily.”
“I believe this common-sense law will enable individuals to pursue their dreams and improve the lives of their families and the communities they serve,” he wrote. “Working with my Republican co-sponsor, we had to educate our colleagues on how this is purely about allowing people who are legally in the U.S. to make a safe and honest living.”
Both contended with critics who falsely claimed this legislation would benefit anyone who crossed U.S. border illegally. It does not.
Legislation helps Tennesseans who are already working
Judith Clerjuene, campaigns and advocacy director for Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and for TIRRC Votes, said her organization worked diligently to engage lawmakers
of all political stripes.
“It was important that we kept the narrative on the heart of the legislation,” she said in an interview. “Tennesseans and young people who are already working are able to pursue the jobs they are training for.”
Zacnite Vargas was once a DACA recipient. She worried for years that changes to the federal program would end her dream of becoming a nurse.
However, she persisted and eventually received a change of legal status that let her fulfill her ambition.
The recently passed legislation will help so many other eager young
“Dreamers,” she said in interview.
“It still feels very surreal,” Vargas. “This bill has been really near and dear to my heart. I’m excited about the doors that will be open.”
David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas.