To: Governor Kay Ivey
Governor Robert Bentley: Drop Alabama from the Texas lawsuit attacking immigrant families!
Thousands of undocumented immigrant families in Alabama will soon have a chance to start fixing their immigration status and get a temporary job authorization under the executive actions announced by President Barack Obama, but Governor Robert Bentley is determined to get in the way. Tell Gov. Robert Bentley to withdraw Alabama name from the Texas Vs. United States lawsuit blocking DAPA and expanded DACA and stop attacking immigrant families.
Why is this important?
My name is Judith and I live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with my husband and 3 children Hannia, Ashley and Lupita who are American citizens. Alabama has been our home for the last 13 years. We lived through horrific times when thousands of immigrant families fled Alabama and thousands more lived in constant fear because Governor Bentley signed into law HB 56 the harshest anti-immigrant law in the nation. My husband and I could fix our immigration status under the administrative relief on immigration announced by President Obama and for the first time we would be able to live without the constant fear of being deported and torn apart from our 3 girls. However Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange have signed onto the Texas lawsuit against the President’s administrative relief, blocking us from applying for this basic protection. Once again, our families are being scapegoated because politicians can’t come up with real solutions to fixing our state’s economic problems.
There are around 25 thousand undocumented immigrants like us living in Alabama who could also have a chance to come forward, apply, pay taxes and fees, and eventually obtain temporary permits to work legally, drive safer, and live without the daily fear of being separated from their family.
With Congress failing to pass comprehensive immigration reform, President Obama took a first step towards fixing our broken immigration system by offering a temporary protection from deportation to certain parents of American citizens and legal permanent residents and youth who were brought to America when they were children.
Alabama already spent taxpayer dollars defending its unconstitutional anti-immigrant law HB 56 and as a result, lost millions in court costs and tax revenues. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley keeps wasting needed money from our state’s general fund by once again attacking and scapegoating our immigrant communities. Most legal experts agree that this lawsuit is a political stunt and has no legal merit. In contrast enabling immigrants who qualify for administrative relief to register with the government and apply for a temporary work permit could increase Alabama’s tax revenues by $38.6 million, over five years, and lead to a cascade of economic benefits. Tell Gov. Robert Bentley to withdraw Alabama’s name from the Texas vs. United States lawsuit and stop attacking our families.
There are around 25 thousand undocumented immigrants like us living in Alabama who could also have a chance to come forward, apply, pay taxes and fees, and eventually obtain temporary permits to work legally, drive safer, and live without the daily fear of being separated from their family.
With Congress failing to pass comprehensive immigration reform, President Obama took a first step towards fixing our broken immigration system by offering a temporary protection from deportation to certain parents of American citizens and legal permanent residents and youth who were brought to America when they were children.
Alabama already spent taxpayer dollars defending its unconstitutional anti-immigrant law HB 56 and as a result, lost millions in court costs and tax revenues. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley keeps wasting needed money from our state’s general fund by once again attacking and scapegoating our immigrant communities. Most legal experts agree that this lawsuit is a political stunt and has no legal merit. In contrast enabling immigrants who qualify for administrative relief to register with the government and apply for a temporary work permit could increase Alabama’s tax revenues by $38.6 million, over five years, and lead to a cascade of economic benefits. Tell Gov. Robert Bentley to withdraw Alabama’s name from the Texas vs. United States lawsuit and stop attacking our families.