The Alabama Senate has passed three immigration-related bills aimed at addressing undocumented immigration and those who assist immigrants without legal status.
The bills, which were advanced on Thursday, would impose restrictions on driver’s licenses issued in other states to undocumented immigrants, prohibit transporting such immigrants into Alabama, and mandate DNA and fingerprint collection from detained migrants.
“The goal is to let illegal immigrants know that unless they have proof of lawful presence, they shouldn’t be in Alabama,” said Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, who sponsors one of the bills.
Democratic senators, known for their extended filibusters, successfully pushed for amendments to the legislation before its passage. Despite their objections, Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, saw these changes as a positive outcome.
“I see this as a win in the end. If I could water this bill down, I’d consider it a better outcome than what it was,” Singleton said after the session on Thursday.
Details of the Bills
SB 53: Sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, this bill establishes a process for determining the immigration status of detained individuals. It also criminalizes human smuggling for anyone knowingly transporting someone without legal status into Alabama. The bill passed with a 24-8 vote.
SB 55: Sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, this bill invalidates out-of-state driver’s licenses issued without verification of legal status. The bill passed with a 24-4 vote.
SB 63: Sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City, this bill requires law enforcement to collect fingerprints and DNA from non-citizens in custody, adding them to the state’s forensic database. It passed with a 24-7 vote.
Amendments and Changes to the Bills
SB 53 had initially sparked criticism for including language that made it a crime to “harbor” a person without legal status, which some opponents compared to parts of the Fugitive Slave Act. This provision was removed in the latest version of the bill.
Sen. Bobby Singleton proposed an amendment to SB 53, exempting teachers and lawyers from the human smuggling charge if they transport an undocumented migrant into Alabama as part of their professional duties. The amendment passed unanimously with a 32-0 vote.
Kitchens mentioned that discussions with Democratic senators helped shape these changes.
“Even working across the aisle, we didn’t see that comparison, but some changes were made through the discussions,” Kitchens said.
Miguel Luna, a policy fellow at the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ACIJ), expressed concern about the bill, even with the removal of the Fugitive Slave Act reference. He stated that the bill unfairly associates human trafficking with undocumented immigrants, which he found offensive. Luna also feared the legislation could target organizations like ACIJ for helping migrants.
In addition to these amendments, Sen. Singleton proposed a change to SB 55. This amendment would allow individuals whose licenses are invalidated by the law to present other forms of documentation proving lawful status. This change also passed with a 32-0 vote.
Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, suggested adding a sign at Alabama’s border to inform drivers of the law’s impact on certain driver’s licenses. This amendment passed with a 29-0 vote, and Elliot expressed his support for the idea.
“I’d love nothing more than to have a sign that says ‘If you’re here illegally, turn around,’” Elliot said.
Impact of the Legislation
Currently, 19 states issue driver’s licenses to immigrants without legal status, but only Connecticut and Delaware issue licenses that are distinguishable from other driver’s licenses. Alabama’s legislation targets these two states, similar to Florida, which maintains a list of out-of-state licenses it does not accept, including those from Connecticut and Delaware.
Luna warned that these measures could have unintended consequences, including making Alabama’s roads less safe and negatively affecting the state’s economy. He argued that without the ability to drive legally, immigrants may be less likely to work, further harming the state.
SB 63, which mandates the collection of DNA and fingerprints from detained non-citizens, passed with little discussion. Luna criticized the bill, stating that it unfairly criminalizes individuals who are already vulnerable.
While the Alabama Senate has passed these bills, their impact remains a subject of ongoing debate. As the legislation moves forward, its potential effects on both immigrants and the broader community will continue to be closely scrutinized.
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