The bill would make it a crime to knowingly bring someone known to be an illegal alien into the state.
Advocates for immigrants showed up at a public hearing today and spoke out against a bill making it a crime to knowingly bring into Alabama an immigrant who is in the county legally.during this legislative session, following the example of President Trump’s efforts to deport people and crack down on illegal immigration.
Immigrants at Alabama capital protest restrictive bills: ‘I deserve to be here’ It says a person “commits the crime of human smuggling if he or she knowingly transports into this state another individual if he or she knows is an illegal alien.” Alabama bill giving some serving life in prison a ‘second chance’ at new sentence advances: Who would qualify?Pornographic images sent to Alabama lawmakers targeted sponsors of age-verification bill, representative saysAllison Hamilton, executive director of the Alabama Coalition of Immigrant Justice, said the bill would add new fear and complications for families who have been living and working in Alabama for decades and who have children who are citizens because they were born here. “These families right now are preparing for the imminent threats of deportation and separation. I think everyone is aware nationally what’s going on with that,” Hamilton told the Alabama House Judiciary Committee. Hamilton said parents who face deportation need to work with the consulates of their home countries to prepare to take their U.S.-born children with them.“Not only is it a huge risk for families to drive themselves across state lines with just everything that’s going on, but also to criminalize anybody who just wants to be a good Samaritan and help,” Hamilton said. “To make it a felony for someone to do that is extremely concerning for us as an organization that believes that every human being deserves dignity and respect.”That includes an exemption for lawyers who take clients to immigration courts in Atlanta or New Orleans because Alabama does not have a federal immigration court. Rep. Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley, a lawyer on the Judiciary Committee, noted that attorneys generally do not take their clients to hearings, so it would be the family members making the trip across state lines to immigration courts who would be subject to the human smuggling charge. Kitchens did not rule out more exceptions but said he did not want the bill to be weakened by loopholes. A second exemption already added to the bill applies to education employees who, for example, might carry students across state lines on a field trip, including students who are not in the country legally. Besides establishing the crime of human smuggling, Kitchens said his bill clarifies the process for state, county, and city law enforcement to determine whether a person who is arrested and brought to jail is in the country legally. “The premise of this bill is to really give law enforcement the tools that they need, if you’ve committed a crime, if you’ve been put in handcuffs and taken to jail, they’ll be able to verify whether you are in the country legally or not,” Kitchens said.Rep. Jim Hill, R-Moody, the committee chairman, said the committee would vote on the bill next week. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alabama Softball Slugs Way to Run-Rule Victory over South AlabamaPatrick Murphy was able to clear the benches in the Crimson Tide's final tuneup before SEC play begins with a 15-3 road win against the Jaguars.
Read more »
No. 12 Alabama Baseball Walks Off South Alabama off Team Captain's BatThe Crimson Tide survived a midweek scare from the Jaguars on Tuesday.
Read more »
Legacy of Hope aims to make a difference for kidney patientsAccording to the Alabama Kidney Foundation 14,000 people from Alabama are currently on dialysis.
Read more »
Scott Cochran adds legendary Alabama linebacker to UWA staff full of Tide starsFormer Alabama football LB Reggie Ragland is joining Scott Cochran at West Alabama.
Read more »
‘Second Chance Act’ passes through the Alabama Senate, one Alabama man shares his firsthand experienceRonald McKeithen was just 21 when he was convicted of robbery in 1984.
Read more »
Justin Lebron Walks Off North Alabama, Gives Alabama Baseball 23rd Win of SeasonThe Crimson Tide fought off the Lions at Toyota Field on Tuesday.
Read more »