Civil rights lawyers ask judge to reopen challenge to law making illegal immigration a state crime

Civil rights lawyers from the ACLU and the National Immigration Law Center are pushing to have a federal judge reconsider a case that questions the legality of Tennessee's new law criminalizing illegal immigration at the state level. The lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Eli Richardson without a full hearing on its merits, prompting the lawyers to request a reopening. This move is significant as it highlights ongoing legal battles over immigration policy and its impact on civil liberties, emphasizing the broader national debate on federal versus state authority in immigration enforcement.