FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 4, 2011
CONTACT: JOE SHANSKY (414) 218-3331
Last week, federal judge Sharon Blackburn ruled to allow the strictest provisions of Alabama’s controversial HB-56 to stand. Widely seen as the harshest and most divisive immigration law in the nation, HB-56 will allow for the following:
makes it a misdemeanor for an undocumented person not to carry documentation of registration with ICE;
Police are now required to determine immigration status of any person they stop, detain, or arrest if they “reasonably suspect” an individual is not in the country legally;
Alabama school officials are now required to collect documents about a child’s immigration status.
The inevitable effects of this arcane law have already been seen in Alabama schools, as fearful parents have begun to withdraw their children from classes. A consequence of the implementation of this law has been a potential loss of millions of dollars to school districts in the wake of the exodus and a weakening of the economy as immigrants who form an important part of the workforce, tax base and consumer base, leave the state.
HB-56 introduces a grim new era of legalized racial profiling and second class citizenship for people of who color who are likely to be targeted by appearance, widespread fear of law enforcement and education authorities, and a historic return to a dark past that so many had hoped had been overcome long ago.
On September 30, 2011 the Obama Administration asked a federal appeals court to block the law.
The following is a statement from Executive Director Christine Neumann-Ortiz:
“Judge Blackburn’s ruling is a tragic moment for all fighters of social justice. Despite the courageous and persistent work of so many immigrant rights and civil rights advocates to uphold the principles of equality, this segregationist law instead attempts to take us several steps back as a country, and allow overt racism and discrimination to guide our laws and institutions. This legal decision was based on personal prejudice—not constitutional principles.
Alabama, a state which also has a proud tradition of overcoming the very worst elements of intolerance, is not alone. As a national movement, we recognize the need to stand with the people in Alabama, who are fighting this blatant effort by Governor Bentley and others to divide their communities, and undo so many years of progress.
We will continue to fight these draconian laws in every corner of the United States.”
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