It has recently come to my attention that in June of 2011, there was a new anti-illegal immigration bill signed into law in the U.S Senate of Alabama. This law requires public schools to check students immigration status, requires employers to use E-Verify to check potential employees’ status, and instructs police to check the immigration status of anyone they stop if they suspect the person of being an undocumented immigrant (Alabama State Legislature). This law is negatively effecting Alabama’s agriculture, education,economy, and the rights of immigrants.

            The result of this new bill is that crops are rotting in the fields, buildings are not being rebuilt after devastating tornadoes, and many small businesses are suffering huge losses in customers and workers. Acres of crops are unpicked and rotting in the Alabama fields after farm workers fled the state. Immigrants are afraid to leave their house to make contract with the police or social services. Industries that are dependent on migrant labor have also been strongly impacted. Farmers have found that Americans are not willing to work under such harsh working conditions for low pay. Some businesses in other industries have lost workers.

            Since the law requires that all schools verify the immigration status of children enrolling, State Education Officials estimated that over 2,000 Latino students were absent from the Alabama schools on Monday, the first day the new law came into affect. This represents an 80 percent increase from the previous Monday. State authorities also sent school “sample letters” for parents of new students informing them of the new requirements and also trying to calm their fears, the Associated Press Reported. “Rest assured that it will not be a problem if you are unable or unwilling to provide either of the documents,” said the letter. Janet Murgiua, President of the National Council of La Raza, said in a conference call that it is “ not just immigrants, or Latinos affected by this law, but all the residents of Alabama.” This is suggesting that everyone is oaffected by HB56.  Murgiua made a comment that this law is the “greatest educational crisis in the state since Jim Crow.”

            This law essentially allows police to racially profile people while criminalizing undocumented migrants for being without immigration documents. This law is simply bringing people back to the time of intense racial hatred during the Civil Rights Movement. The people of color feel like they are being targeted for no reason. This was a time where black fought for their rights, and ultimately got what they wanted. Alabama’s HB 56 requires police to investigate the immigration status of those pulled over for routine traffic stops, or if they have “reasonable suspicion” that a person is undocumented. It is obvious that police will make these judgments of who to investigate based on appearance, including skin color. Furthermore, this law will also allow undocumented migrants to be held without bond; make it a felony for an undocumented migrant to do business with the state; make it a misdemeanor for an undocumented resident to be without immigration documents.

            By treating someone different based on skin color or appearance violates the constitution and institutionalizes inequality. It’s clear that white Americans will be given a pass and people who are thought to be immigrants will have to prove it. Since the majority of migrants come from Latin America, people who are brown skinned, Latino, or thought to be Latino, will likely bear the brunt of this new law.

            Please do the right thing and repeal this policy for the well being of your state and its inhabitants. We do not need to put these people through any more misery and torture.

Sincerely,

Carly Weinstein

http://latindispatch.com/2011/06/09/text-of-alabama-immigration-law-hb-56/