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The Board of Mayor and Alderman recently passed a resolution declaring that the City of Tullahoma is not a sanctuary city.

Municipalities are described as sanctuary cities if they limit local law enforcement on how they can assist federal agencies with information about non-citizens.

In a memo from Alderman Daniel Berry, he states the intent of the declaration is to “formally declare the City of Tullahoma’s policy on cooperation with federal immigration authorities and to reaffirm the city’s commitment to law enforcement, public safety and the efficient use of municipal resources.”

Berry said in his introduction of the resolution that he wanted to align the city with a recent bill signed by Governor Bill Lee that requires local law enforcement to communicate with federal immigration agencies regarding the status of non-citizens.

Alderman Jenna Amacher expressed that she agreed with the sentiment of the resolution, but she thought the resolution was “unnecessary.”

“The effect of the bill basically creates a prohibition on sanctuary cities,” she said. She added that she had several citizens reach out to her with concerns, and that some even thought that the bill was meant to create a sanctuary city, not to declare the opposite.

There were no further comments about the resolution, so Mayor Ray Knowis called the vote.

Berry made the motion, and Alderman Bobbie Wilson seconded. The vote passed six to one, with Amacher voting in opposition.