To: The Alabama State House, The Alabama State Senate, and Governor Kay Ivey
Immigration Laws in Alabama
Alabama immigration laws do not express any avenue to begin any process of legalizing immigrants who have been here for many years, who have families and friends here, who have been good, law-abiding citizens, and who wish to become legalized citizens. Alabama's punitive immigration laws need to be repealed to open this avenue.
Why is this important?
The immigration laws in Alabama are unreasonable. Because it is illegal to give a helping hand to an immigrant without papers, the whole concept of "the good Samaritan" has been trashed in this state. The laws have also led to higher racial profiling in a state where racial profiling is already high. Individuals who have been "legal" immigrants for years have been stopped by police, and there are those who fear being stopped. Also, families are split when children have been born to illegal immigrants in Alabama, and the parents have been sent back to the home country.