Protecting the Right to Learn: Defending Immigrant Students in Tennessee
Fri Jan 16 2026
In this episode of amplifiED, Josh Crosson is joined by Meili Powell and Jenny Mills McFerron of EdTrust Tennessee to unpack how advocates successfully pushed back against legislation threatening immigrant students’ access to public education.
As Minnesota faces rising fear and increased immigration enforcement, this conversation looks to Tennessee, where lawmakers introduced bills aimed at undermining Plyler v. Doe, including proposals to deny enrollment, collect immigration status in schools, or charge tuition to undocumented students. Meili and Jenny explain how even the threat of these policies created a chilling effect, driving students out of classrooms and destabilizing entire school communities.
The episode highlights how Education for All Tennessee, a 65-organization coalition, kept the focus on education access while combining disciplined messaging, grassroots organizing, student voices, and legislative strategy to stop two bills outright and delay a third.
For advocates in Minnesota and beyond, this episode offers a clear warning—and a practical roadmap—for defending the fundamental right of every child to learn.
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In this episode of amplifiED, Josh Crosson is joined by Meili Powell and Jenny Mills McFerron of EdTrust Tennessee to unpack how advocates successfully pushed back against legislation threatening immigrant students’ access to public education. As Minnesota faces rising fear and increased immigration enforcement, this conversation looks to Tennessee, where lawmakers introduced bills aimed at undermining Plyler v. Doe, including proposals to deny enrollment, collect immigration status in schools, or charge tuition to undocumented students. Meili and Jenny explain how even the threat of these policies created a chilling effect, driving students out of classrooms and destabilizing entire school communities. The episode highlights how Education for All Tennessee, a 65-organization coalition, kept the focus on education access while combining disciplined messaging, grassroots organizing, student voices, and legislative strategy to stop two bills outright and delay a third. For advocates in Minnesota and beyond, this episode offers a clear warning—and a practical roadmap—for defending the fundamental right of every child to learn.