Senate Bill 1973, also known as the "Tennessee Freedom from Unlawful Immigration Detention Act," aims to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code to prohibit state and local law enforcement from detaining individuals based solely on requests or warrants issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill establishes that a person cannot be detained, arrested, or held based on an ICE immigration detainer, administrative warrant, or any request related to immigration status unless a valid judicial warrant is presented. This judicial warrant must be signed by a judge, establish probable cause, and specifically authorize the detention or transfer of the individual in question. Additionally, the bill states that ICE detainers and administrative warrants have no legal force under state law.

The legislation also includes provisions for civil liability, allowing individuals unlawfully detained or transferred to bring a civil action against the involved law enforcement agency, the political subdivision, and any officers who participated in the unlawful action. It specifies that a prevailing plaintiff is entitled to compensatory damages, statutory damages, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief. Furthermore, the bill waives governmental and sovereign immunity for the enforcement of these provisions, and it establishes a rebuttable presumption of unlawfulness if detention occurs under an ICE detainer. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.