Good news.... A federal appeals court has enjoined (blocked) two more provisions of the Alabama immigration law, the toughest in the country. Parts of the law have been blocked in piecemeal fashion by different courts. But this isn’t the end of the story. The injunctions are only temporary, until the court can make a final ruling on the law’s constitutionality. Moreover, during any lawful stop, police in Alabama are still required to determine the immigration status of anyone they suspect is undocumented. This provision was enjoined in Arizona’s law, but it wasn’t touched in Alabama.
On April 25, the Supreme Court will hear a lawsuit challenging the Arizona law, so the final verdict on laws in Alabama and other states will depend on what happens in that case.
Below is a list of some key provisions from the Alabama law. Provisions 1-5 were enjoined (blocked) in September; provisions 6-7 were enjoined in October; and provisions 8-9 were enjoined today. Provision 10 still holds. The Obama administration and a group of nonprofits continue to fight the law in court.
1. It’s illegal to harbor or transport an undocumented immigrant.
2. Undocumented students can’t attend public universities.
3. It’s a state crime for undocumented people to apply for work or solicit work.
4. Employers can’t get business tax deductions on wages paid to unauthorized workers.
5. Alabama residents can sue employers who fire lawful workers while hiring or retaining unauthorized workers.
6. Schools must determine immigration status of kids who enroll, plus their parents.
7. It’s a state crime for any non-citizen to not carry registration documents .
8. State courts can’t enforce contracts involving undocumented immigrants.
9. It’s a felony for undocumented people to enter into a "business transaction" with the state government -- e.g., applying for a driver's license or applying for water/sewer service.
10. During lawful stops, if the police suspect you are undocumented, they are required to try and determine your status. (Hello, profiling!)
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
