The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition -- or TIRRC -- was founded in 2003, but over the last several years have become one of the most important political and policy organizations in the south. The White House’s frequent and often jarring changes to federal policies about immigration and refugee resettlement have put TIRRC at the center of a lot of conversations about what the impact of these policies looks like at the local level. Right now, TIRRC is celebrating the groundbreaking of a new headquarters facility in the Antioch community of Nashville, but they are active in cities and towns across Tennessee and some neighboring states, and it’s clear that they intend to have an even stronger voice in defending the rights and needs of new Americans in the years ahead.

We spoke to the Judith Clerjeune, TIRRC’s policy director, about some of the many battles that TIRRC is engaged in right now, what she thinks the future holds for the south’s refugee population, and what each of us can do to help.

Referenced in this episode:

“Nashvillians of the Year: Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.” Nashville Scene, December 5, 2019.

“Tennessee's refugee resettlement lawsuit dealt major setback, leaving U.S. Supreme Court as final option.” The Tennessean, October 16, 2019.

“'TIRRC is here to stay', new headquarters opening in Antioch.” The Tennessean, December 8, 2019.