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Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Alabama Legislature only passes two immigration bills despite GOP push on issue
Protesters march during a non violent protest in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S., on Saturday February 22, 2025. Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice organized the event for the public to show empathy to immigrants in the wake of all the anti immigration bills currently in legislature. The Alabama Legislature considered several proposals during the 2025 session to place further restrictions on peple without legal status. Photographer: Andi Rice for Alabama Reflector Despite spending a great deal of time on the issue in the 2025 session, the Alabama Legislature only passed two bills targeting those without appropriate authorization to reside in the country. SB 63, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City, requires law enforcement in Alabama to take fingerprints and DNA samples of people without the documentation to live in the U.S. and submit them to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Alabama Department of Forensic Science. SB 53, sponsored by Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, made it a crime, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine, for people to knowingly transport a person without the appropriate documentation to reside in the country into the state. The bill also required county or municipal jail administrators to investigate those placed into custody to determine a person's immigration status and check with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security if the individual was issued an immigration detainer or warrant. 'Many of these bills were created to address problems that don't exist in Alabama,' said Allison Hamilton, executive director of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice. 'The majority of these bills were copycat bills that were developed at national thinktanks and distributed out to different legislators around the country to implement in their states.' But several other immigration bills stalled before getting a final vote. HB 7, sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, would have allowed state and local law enforcement to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enforce the country's immigration laws, an authority that currently belongs only to the Alabama Attorney General's Office. The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved the legislation in February, soon after the 2025 session began, but the full chamber did not vote on the measure until April. The legislation did not come to a vote in the full Senate. HB 3, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, would have enhanced penalties for people convicted of felonies if they cannot prove they have legal authorization to be in the U.S. A Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison to a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Those convicted of a Class C felony would have their punishment upgraded to a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. People who commit a Class B felony would have their convictions upgraded to a Class A felony, punishable by up to 99 years in prison and a $60,000 fine. Individuals found guilty of a Class A felony, the most serious offense, would have had to serve at least 15 years in prison. Other legislation would have made labor brokers register with the Alabama Department of Workforce and must then report the foreign nationals they place with companies through contract work. Another bill, HB 297, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Silverhill, would have originally imposed a fee on international wire transfers, often used by immigrants to support families overseas. But the legislation was heavily amended to require reports on certain overseas cash transactions. All the bills eventually stalled in the Senate. One bill attempted to restrict those without proper authorization by limiting their ability to drive in the state. SB 55, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, would have prohibited people who have a driver's license from another state from driving in Alabama if the state that authorized it did not review a person's legal status. The legislation stalled in the House chamber after it passed the Senate. Legislators from a slate of other states introduced nearly identical legislation, so Hamilton said the bills are not tailored to the problems that residents face in Alabama. 'If they were really trying to address it, there were other bills that other representatives introduced that would have been more effective, but this bill was really about continuing to oppress immigrant communities and make life difficult,' she said.' But those who favor more restrictions said actions are necessary to disincentivize people without appropriate authorization to live in the country. 'The objective here is to present people here with rational choices, and if they believe they are not going to succeed in what they are doing, then they either will not come to the United States at all, or if individual states within the country adopt policies that make it clear they are going to be partners in enforcement, those people will settle elsewhere in the county,' said Ira Mehlman, media director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group that advocates for immigration legislation like those introduced. Debu Ghandi, senior director for immigration at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank, cited a 2020 report from the organization that found undocumented immigrants contribute almost $80 million in federal taxes and $41 billion in state and local taxes each year. They also pay another $315 billion annually nationally through spending. 'Many industries often rely on their hard, and often dangerous, work,' he said. 'Undocumented immigrants, in fact, cannot receive social and Medicare benefits, but they have to pay into these programs through the payroll taxes that they are required to pay even though they are not eligible for the benefits that these programs fund.' Hamilton said there are potential negative consequences of these bills for the state. 'What Alabama would like in that case is a lot fewer workers and a lot fewer people, fewer restaurants, and just a sadder place,' she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Alabama lawmakers approve additional legal protections for police officers
Alabama lawmakers on Wednesday approved enhanced legal protections for police officers, changes that Republicans said show support for law enforcement but Democrats called 'a green light to kill Black folks.' The Alabama Legislature gave final approval to the legislation that sets legal standards for the use of force and provides for an immunity hearing. The bill states that an officer 'shall be justified' in the use of physical force as long as it is not constitutionally excessive force or 'recklessly' outside of the officer's discretionary authority. Republicans, who called the legislation the 'Back The Blue' bill said it is needed to provide a clear legal framework and show support for law enforcement officers faced with making split-second decisions. 'We ask them to take care of us, keep us safe in our homes as we sleep at night. This bill will give them the assurances that we back them and back the blue,' Sen. Lance Bell, a former deputy sheriff, said. Bell said officers who act improperly can still be prosecuted. The approval came after an emotional debate in which Black lawmakers read the names of Black people who have been killed by police and described their own encounters with law enforcement. 'HB 202 is a license to kill Black people. That's what it is,' Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Black Democrat from Birmingham, said. Smitherman said departments have very good officers, but they also have officers who are 'racist against Black people' or will make impulsive decisions because they are scared. Sen. Merika Coleman, a Black Democrat from Pleasant Grove, said she fears the bill will protect 'bad apples' in police departments. She described her worries that someone might see her honors student son as a threat someday because of his tall frame and twisted locs. 'If this bill passes and there are young Black males, females, brown and other folks killed, you will have blood on your hands because of this piece of legislation,' Coleman said. Bell urged opponents to 'walk a mile in a law enforcement officer's shoes and find out what they have to deal with.' Smitherman responded, 'Walk a mile in the person's shoes when the person is dead.' The Alabama Senate approved the bill on a 25-6 late-night vote in the final hour of the legislative session. The House of Representatives accepted Senate changes. The bill now goes to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey who said she will sign it into law. 'There is NO question Alabama backs the blue!' Ivey stated on social media after the bill's passage. Under existing state law, police and civilians alike are currently entitled to a 'stand your ground' hearing in criminal cases where a judge can determine whether the defendant acted in self defense. The legislation will allow an immunity hearing where a judge will decide if a case can proceed based on whether the officer acted recklessly outside the scope of law enforcement duties. It would add similar protections in state civil lawsuits. It would also require law enforcement departments to collect data that tracks use of force complaints. The executive director of the Alabama Sheriff's Association, Hoss Mack, testified in favor of the bill in April. 'This is of equal benefit to law enforcement and the public. Let me reiterate what this bill does not do. It does not give blanket immunity to law enforcement,' said Mack, who added that he had personally arrested officers that worked for him for misconduct throughout his 39-year career in law enforcement. Leroy Maxwell, a civil rights attorney based in Birmingham, said he is afraid the bill would embolden misconduct. 'Legislation like this paves the way toward a police state, where law enforcement operates above the law and without fear of consequence,' Maxwell said. Civil rights attorney Harry Daniels opposed the law but doubted the overall impact on civil rights cases which could still be filed in federal court and will not be affected by the legislation. 'It is a lion with no teeth. It appears to be big and bad but it has no teeth and no claws,' Daniels said.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Senate passes slew of immigration bills
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Today, the Senate passed three bills establishing new crimes and requirements for people unlawfully in the U.S. Republicans said they are backing the new administration and their policies on immigration, but Democrats said there could be consequences. 'The Senate Republicans are working hard in trying to support President Trump and his goal of securing the border, and getting us back to a safe state like we used to be,' said Sen. Lance Bell (R-Pell City). Bell is sponsoring a bill that would require DNA testing for people found to be unlawfully in the US. Sen. Wes Kitchens (R-Arab) has a bill that would make human smuggling a Class C felony. 'We met with people from Texas,' he said about a trip to the southern border back in September. 'We met with a sheriff from Arizona. And a lot of these ideas came from that trip. Where we were able to see the hand-on what's happening at the border. But, then what carries over to our states. And that's what we're trying to correct, these things now.' Bill would require daily prayer in Alabama schools at the risk of slashing funds Another bill would invalidate driver's licenses from other states. This being for drivers who didn't prove they were here legally when they originally got their license. Sen. Bobby Singleton (D- Greensboro) said these bills are inhumane. 'It's still kind of sketchy as to whether or not the way I get treated on a day to day basis, you know, being targeted,' he explained. 'In terms of profiling, crimes, and being blamed for different stuff. So, it's hard to sit back and see other races of people go through the same thing.' Miguel Luna is a policy fellow with the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice. He said the bills incite fear in undocumented people. 'They're frightened to go to work. They're frightened to go to school,' he remarked. 'They're frightened to even just go outside and enjoy life. And that shouldn't be how anybody should be living.' These bills are headed to the House. They'll go to committee, and then the House floor for final consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
