A Nashville proposal to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities is drawing strong condemnation from some top Middle Tennessee Republicans.

The sponsor of a 2009 state law banning so-called “sanctuary cities” says he’s prepared to have the Metro Council proposal struck down if it wins final approval at a meeting next month.

The proposal passed a second of three votes Tuesday night, over the objections of some council members who asked for more time.

The measure before the Metro Council would bar police and the county sheriff’s office from doing more than is absolutely required under federal and state law to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

State Senator Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, isn’t convinced the proposal has teeth. He says that lawyers tell him the federal government and the state of Tennessee already have the final say on criminal and immigration law.

“It’s just something that they wanted to do to make people feel good,” he says.

But Tracy nonetheless says he’ll ask the state’s attorney general to weigh in and neuter the ordinance if it passes. If that threat doesn’t cause Nashville to back down, lawmakers could override the city when the General Assembly reconvenes next January.

Other Republicans have had even harsher words: Metro Councilman Robert Swope, President Trump’s state campaign director, says the proposal would be “disastrous.” Congressman Diane Black, a possible candidate for governor next year, adds that it raises safety concerns.

Time for Nashville politicians to stop borrowing liberal policies from CA & NY and put TN families first. STATEMENT:
https://t.co/f7LVO3zu3Q— Diane Black (@RepDianeBlack)
June 21, 2017

But supporters of the proposal say they’re also motivated by a desire to protect the public. Unless clear lines are drawn between local police and federal authorities, they say many of the city’s immigrants will be reluctant to report crimes to law enforcement.