About Alabama's Immigration Law
On June 2, 2011, the Alabama legislature passed the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer Act, HB56. The law was passed after Republicans won a supermajority in the Alabama state legislature in 2010. According to one of the law’s sponsors, Representative Hammon, its purpose was to “attack every aspect of an [undocumented immigrants] life . . . [and was] designed to make it difficult for them to live here so they deport themselves . . . .” Labeled by the Immigration Reform Law Institute as the “most advanced state immigration law” and the Southern Poverty Law Center as a “harsh anti-immigrant law,” the passage of HB56 has created many unintended consequences.
HB56 builds on the similar law passed in Arizona but goes considerably further. Both critics and advocates of the law seem to agree that HB 56 is the “toughest of all modern state immigration
enforcement measures.” Unlike Arizona, Alabama is not a border state and has relatively few immigrants in its population. According to the 2010 Census, only 2.9% of Alabama’s population was foreign-born and only 2.5% of Alabama’s population is undocumented.
HB56 builds on the similar law passed in Arizona but goes considerably further. Both critics and advocates of the law seem to agree that HB 56 is the “toughest of all modern state immigration
enforcement measures.” Unlike Arizona, Alabama is not a border state and has relatively few immigrants in its population. According to the 2010 Census, only 2.9% of Alabama’s population was foreign-born and only 2.5% of Alabama’s population is undocumented.
Fact Sheets and Resources
On August 20, 2012, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued decisions blocking parts of Alabama’s anti-immigrant law, HB 56, while allowing others to proceed. This fact sheet reflects the state of the law after these decisions. It also reflects the changes made to HB 56 by HB 658, a law the Alabama legislature passed in May 2012.
What You Need to Know Alabama's Immigration Law - English
Lo Que Usted Debe Saber Sobre La Ley De Immigracion De Alabama - Spanish
More coming soon ...
What You Need to Know Alabama's Immigration Law - English
Lo Que Usted Debe Saber Sobre La Ley De Immigracion De Alabama - Spanish
More coming soon ...
Alabama Immigration Law News Articles
Appeals court denies Alabama's request for new hearing on immigration law, CNN Wire (10/18/12)
SPLC Files Lawsuit After Education Department Refuses To Release Public Records On Latino Students, Huffington Post (10/11/12)
Alabama immigration law's 'scarlet letter' list so far has no names, AL.com (10/3/12)
How To Understand The Federal Court Decision Striking Down Most Of Alabama's Anti-Immigrant Law, Think Progress (8/21/12)
Court Upholds Alabama's Immigration Law, ColorLines (9/29/11)
SPLC Files Lawsuit After Education Department Refuses To Release Public Records On Latino Students, Huffington Post (10/11/12)
Alabama immigration law's 'scarlet letter' list so far has no names, AL.com (10/3/12)
How To Understand The Federal Court Decision Striking Down Most Of Alabama's Anti-Immigrant Law, Think Progress (8/21/12)
Court Upholds Alabama's Immigration Law, ColorLines (9/29/11)
