Latin America: Week in Review, United States

Immigration: ACLU & Obama Admin Ask To Overturn Alabama Law

November 16, 2011 By Staff

Today in Latin America

Top Story — The American Civil Liberties Union and U.S. authorities have asked a federal appeals court to overturn Alabama’s tough new immigration law.  The federal government and the ACLU filed separate amicus briefs on Monday calling for a reversal of the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, which would require Alabama schools, businesses and police to investigate the immigration status of students, employees, and those stopped by law enforcement. The law, signed by Alabama Governor Robert J. Bentley on June 9, was upheld on September 28 by a federal judge. On October 14, an appellate panel blocked enforcement of parts of the law pending further review. The federal government argues that the law is unconstitutional because states cannot regulate immigration, and wants the September 28 ruling reversed. According to the ACLU, the law is so harsh that it “effectively expels immigrants from Alabama by depriving them of the necessities of life.”

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