The state of Alabama has begun implementing a law, HB 56, designed to kick Latinos and immigrants out of the state. If you thought Arizona’s immigration law was bad, Alabama’s new law is worse. This is Arizona on steroids.

Over 1,000 frantic calls have been made by immigrants in Alabama to an abuse hotline since the law went into effect last week, and more keep coming in. And it’s not just immigrants -- the entire Latino community is under siege.

"I was born in the United States," one young Alabama woman said. "I know I have my American rights. But if I go outside people are going to think I’m illegal. I get scared because we have the color."1

K-12 schools are asking children, including U.S. citizens, to show their papers.2 Immigrants are facing eviction because all contracts, including rental agreements and utility services, with undocumented people have been declared invalid.3 Local police are now required to pick people up for “looking” undocumented.4

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley5 and the architect of the law, State Senator Scott Beason,6 call this a “victory.” We call it shameful and un-American.

We can’t let another set of right wing politicians think they’ve gotten a free pass – join us in letting the Governor and the extremist Senator who sponsored the law know that all of America is watching in disgust.

If we don’t speak up, the Alabama approach could go nationwide. Candidates for President and members of Congress are bashing immigrants with impunity and advocating the Alabama vision for the entire country. Their policy would deny immigrants any chance of legal status and force all undocumented immigrants out of the country by unleashing new waves of terror in immigrant communities.

If we don’t speak up, who will?

Thank you for your commitment to decency and the highest American values,

Adam Luna
America’s Voice Education Fund