immigration reform

Immigration Law: How Alabama Legislators Voted On HB56

November 25, 2011 by Left in Alabama

A few days ago on facebook, a friend raised the question of who, exactly, voted for the Beason-Hammon Immigration Law, or HB56. Since pulling the information out of the Legislature's database isn't easy for most people, I promised to post the House and Senate roll calls for passage of HB56.  Those are below the fold.

Something To Be Thankful For: Judge Myron Thompson Blocks Business Transaction Section of HB56

November 23, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Section 30, the portion of Alabama's immigration law that criminalized business transactions between undocumented residents and the state or its subdivisions was blocked Wednesday by Federal District Court Judge Myron Thompson.  This is a huge win for undocumented residents who live in mobile homes -- it literally means they can keep their homes.

“Latino Alabamians, 30 percent of whom occupy mobile homes, will have something to truly be grateful for this Thanksgiving,” said Linton Joaquin, general counsel of the National Immigration Law Center. “Today’s ruling is a victory that will prevent people from being pushed out of their homes.”

“We are extremely pleased that this court has blocked this ill-conceived provision of this law,” said Mary Bauer, legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center. “This case really shows the truly terrible ways that HB56 is playing out in the real world.  There’s little doubt that this law was intended to drive Latinos out of the state, and that its effects have been to devastate the Latino community in Alabama.”

Missouri Thanks Bentley, Beason & Hammon for HB56

November 22, 2011 by Left in Alabama

In this morning's St. Louis Times-Dispatch:

Hey, Mercedes, time to move to a more welcoming state

Carpetbaggers never have been treated very kindly in the South, though we would have thought exceptions would have been made for those with SUV factories in their carpetbags.

...

Here's an idea: You should move your SUV plant to Missouri.

Our state has many advantages over Alabama. We are the Show-Me State, not the "Show me your papers" state.

The article notes that Missouri offers up to $100 million in incentives for auto plant expansion and suggests they "come up with a lot more for a brand new plant."

Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice Launches Campaign Against HB 56 Today, November 21st

November 20, 2011 by Left in Alabama

The Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice will kick off the campaign against HB 56 at 2:00 PM Central Time Monday with a news conference in advance of an Ad Hoc Congressional Hearing being held at the Council Chambers on the 3^rd Floor of Birmingham City Hall. Present will be a number of key members of Congress, including immigration reform champion, Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL), who will listen to stories of those who have been affected by the law. Other members of Congress in attendance are as follows:

Beason-Hammon Immigration Law Snares Mercedes-Benz Executive

November 18, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Tuscaloosa police stopped a rental car with no tag, said "Papers, please," and when the German driver couldn't produce them, they had no choice but to haul him off to jail under HB56, the Beason-Hammon Immigration Law -- even though he's a Mercedes-Benz executive here on business!

The only ID the man was carrying was German -- not enough to prove he was in Alabama legally.

The 46-year-old executive was charged with violating the immigration law for not having proper identification, but he was released after an associate retrieved his passport, visa and German driver's license from the hotel where he was staying ...

"If it were not for the immigration law, a person without a license in their possession wouldn't be arrested like this," he said. Previously, drivers who lacked licenses received a ticket and a court summons, according to [Tuscaloosa Police Chief] Anderson.