Bill asks jailers to determine immigrant status

The sponsors of a bill that would require Tennessee jailers to determine whether inmates are illegally in the country and report them say its an easy way to fight illegal immigration in the state.
But some sheriffs consider it an unfunded mandate that will open them up to new liabilities.
Several counties are exempted from the Senate version of the bill.
Republican Sen. Dolores Gresham of Somerville said concerns that the bill could lead to racial profiling and lawsuits are a “red herring.’’
The version passed by the House didn’t exempt as many counties, so the two chambers were trying to reconcile their differences before the Legislature adjourned this week.