A coalition of people and organizations came together and successfully won a campaign for driver’s licenses for all. Tennessee was one of the first states in the country that allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses (It was later overturned). After the campaign, members of immigrant and refugee service providing organizations recognized the need for an organization focused on ongoing advocacy for our communities.

The Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Coalition was officially founded!

TIRRC helped defeat an English-only referendum in Nashville in our first real electoral policy campaign. After a policy to make government services only available in English passed the Nashville Metro Council, our members successfully lobbied the mayor to veto the legislation. We then advocated for the council to oppose the policy and defeated a public referendum, establishing as a shared value that Nashville is a welcoming and inclusive city.

TIRRC and partners joined together to defend one of the first direct legislative assaults on Tennessee's Muslim and refugee communities. In the face of legislation equating Sharia with terrorism, together we organized hundreds of Muslim Tennesseans to visit lawmakers throughout the legislative session, with many lawmakers meeting a Muslim for the first time. Not only were the bills defeated, but many Muslim leaders involved went on to establish new organizations, strengthening the landscape of those fighting for a more inclusive Tennessee.

TIRRC responded to the largest workplace immigration raid in over a decade outside of Morristown, Tennessee. After providing initial rapid response and case management services, we continued to support, organize and advocate for and with the community, culminating in a historic victory for workers in a lawsuit against the federal government for violating their constitutional rights.

Also in 2018, TIRRC helped launch an affiliated 501(c)4 organization, TIRRC Votes. You can read about their work here.

TIRRC opened the doors to our brand new headquarters, a community hub and 2,970 square-foot event center in the heart of Nashville’s immigrant and refugee community. Opening our headquarters was a testament to the power of our movement and a symbol of immigrant and refugee communities’ deep roots in Tennessee. Our headquarters features a soccer field, community garden, playground, and public art for all in the community to enjoy.

TIRRC celebrated 20 powerful years of the immigrant rights movement in Tennessee!