AMAC’s Fight Against Unconstitutional Memphis National Guard Deployment: In the Courts and On the Ground

On September 15, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum deploying Tennessee National Guard troops to Memphis. Less than one month later on October 10th, 2025, they began patrolling our streets, inciting fear and anxiety amongst the people of Memphis and beyond. AMAC has since then worked tirelessly to put an end to this unconstitutional deployment by filing an amicus brief with ACLU-TN to challenge this government overreach, as well as mobilizing our community leaders to provide “Know your Rights” workshops and community hotlines with direct support for our affected brothers and sisters in Memphis.

Our Fight in the Courts: Amicus Brief in Harris v. Lee

Together with ACLU-TN and 11 community partners, The American Muslim Advisory Council has filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit against the unconstitutional deployment of National Guard troops to Memphis, TN. The brief highlights the “constitutional limits on the Tennessee governor's power to deploy state military forces for civilian law enforcement.”  

So what’s included in this brief?

The brief dives into the history, tradition, and laws that limit the governor’s authority to deploy military force. In particular, it cites Tennessee’s original 1796 constitution which says:

“Standing Armies in times of peace are dangerous to freedom" and commanded that "in all cases the military shall be in strict Subordination to the civil authority."

Executive Director Sabina Mohyuddin, said of the filing:

“Our Constitution is clear about where power lies: ‘We the People.’ The Tennessee Constitution has ensured that, setting the standard high for past deployments. Memphis Muslim, immigrant and black communities are not asking for surveillance and intimidation but investments and opportunities."

Her statement reinforces the argument presented in the brief that the courts had previously prohibited attempts to employ the National Guard in the Jim Crow Era as a means to incite chaos in Memphis’ predominantly black population who were fighting for the right to vote.

The racial profiling and suppression of

Memphis’ Black and Immigrant population has never ceased.

The brief ends with a note that the civil and political rights of the people of Memphis have been under attack for almost 100 years. However, the same tactics of military force used to control and intimidate communities of color will be fought using the same legal recourse as they did almost 100 years ago.

What is AMAC Doing On The Ground?

Amal Altareb, our West TN Program Manager has hit the ground running in an effort to not only fight against the deployment- speaking at county and citywide public meetings– but provide resources for affected community members living in fear. From working with masjid leaders to disseminate information to the public, to hosting Know your Rights Workshops, Amal is working tirelessly against the powers that seek to stifle the voice of the people of Memphis.

Here are some of the other things you can reach out to for Amal for:

• Free legal clinics and workshops from immigration lawyers

• Navigating ICE detention facilities, including:

  • Language access 

  • Tracking and finding loved ones

  • Connecting to other resources

  
  

  Call 901-290-8469 or email amal@amactn.com

  if you need support in Memphis.

Click here to watch Amal speak out against the deployment at the Shelby County Commission Meeting.

Further Reading:

• Amicus Brief

• ACLU Press Release