Thread: Alabama nears final approval of immigration crackdown :)

By Verna Gates

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama | Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:31pm EDT

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters)- Following in the footsteps of the Alabama House of Representatives, the state Senate on Thursday passed a measure to crackdown on illegal immigration, bringing the measure close to becoming law.

If minor differences between versions of the bill are ironed out and Republican Governor Robert Bentley signs it, Alabama would join a handful of states enacting major immigration legislation this year.

The Alabama law is similar to an Arizona measure that stirred national controversy and was blocked in the courts. Like Arizona, Alabama state and local police would have broad powers to check the immigration status of people detained on other charges.

Under the Alabama legislation harboring, concealing, transporting or employing illegal immigrants would be against the law and any employer doing business with the state will be required to check the legal status of workers.

The bill passed the Senate by a 26 to 6 vote.

"This bill is about job creation to ensure that Alabamians who want a job will get a job and won't be denied in lieu of an illegal immigrant or fired to hire an illegal immigrant," said bill sponsor, Republican Senator Scott Beason.

The bill extends into housing issues, requiring landlords to refuse rentals or even evict people who are found to be illegal immigrants.

"Lots of people will be instantly homeless because landlords who rent to illegals will become felons," said Helen Rivas, a civil rights advocate.

Rights groups are concerned that it would lead to racial profiling in the state, which has a long history of civil rights violations, and infringe the federal government's duty to enforce immigration laws.

Under the bill, the children of illegal immigrants could be restricted from participating in extracurricular activities at school and from benefiting from in-state college tuition.

The bill returns to the House to be approved, amended or merged with the House bill passed last week, and then goes to the governor.

In the absence of federal immigration reform, a few states have followed Arizona in enacting immigration laws. Utah passed sweeping immigration legislation this year and an immigration measure is awaiting the signature of Georgia's Republican governor. Proposals are moving through the legislatures of several other states.

(Editing by Greg McCune)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/ ... 2X20110422 Winning

well now, that is some good news to end the day

GO 'BAMA!!! Great news

Alabama Senate OKs bill to allow officers to detain suspected illegal immigrants Published: Thursday, April 21, 2011, 6:10 PM MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama Senate this afternoon approved an Arizona-style immigration bill that would allow law enforcement officers to detain people they suspect of being in the country illegally.

Bill sponsor Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, said illegal immigrants working in the state take jobs from Alabamians. "That's thousands of jobs Alabamians could be holding," Beason said.

Beason said the bill will send a message that Alabama is willing to step in and address the problem of illegal immigration.

The bill makes it a crime to knowingly employ, harbor, rent to or even give an illegal immigrant a ride.

The bill would require police officers to verify a person's immigration status if they stop them for a traffic violation or other infraction and have a "reasonable suspicion" the person is in the United States unlawfully. Suspected illegal immigrants could be detained.

Critics of the bill argued it would lead to the harassment of people who may look or sound different.

"You are going to be out here profiling everyone," Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said.

Beason defended the bill, saying an officer could stop a person only for a legitimate offense and not based on suspicions about a person's immigration status.

"It has every precaution in it to make sure people are not harassed. Very, very simple for law abiding citizens, I don't think their lives will change at all," Beason said.

Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, put an amendment on the bill to exempt religious organizations transporting people to and from religious functions. Bedford said Catholic churches and other churches had asked for the exemption.

"God does not decide if you are legal or illegal. He decides if you are saved or unsaved," Bedford said.

The House of Representatives already has passed a similar bill that has many of the same provisions.

However, there are some differences between the House and Senate bills. The House-passed bill requires businesses to use E-Verify, an Internet-based system to check the immigration status of workers. The Senate bill only requires the use of E-Verify by businesses that contract with or get grants from the state.

Beason said he didn't think it was fair to small businesses to mandate the use of E-Verify.
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/04/ala ... o_all.html

Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, put an amendment on the bill to exempt religious organizations transporting people to and from religious functions. Bedford said Catholic churches and other churches had asked for the exemption.

Are you kidding me?!?!?!?! Churches, especially Catholic churches, as some of the biggest enablers of illegal immigration!! NO EXEMPTIONS!!!

The bill extends into housing issues, requiring landlords to refuse rentals or even evict people who are found to be illegal immigrants.

"Lots of people will be instantly homeless because landlords who rent to illegals will become felons," said Helen Rivas, a civil rights advocate.

Good! They should be felons if they are renting to known illegal invaders! And I could give a shit if an illegal invader is homeless! We have plenty of American citizens on the streets, in large part, because illegal invaders have stolen those jobs they would normally be able to secure to keep them off the streets!

Alabama and Georgia both passing laws.

anyone want to move to these states now?

The Senator needs to read the Bible; You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 21 Neither shall you covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. { Let me put it in modern terms your neighbors country, jobs ,economy,house,ect} Just like GOD has Blessed this country he has made away it"s called the immigration process it works millions have used it[/b]

good for you now for other state get on the Ball & fight
this is your country fight for it & if you don't fight for it No one will &all of the Illegal immigrant from all Over the world will win
& we don't want that to happen do we I know for sure I don't .
Im a fighter . you have to be . you want something you have to fight for it & I will
No amnesty

Originally Posted by images

The Senator needs to read the Bible; You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 21 Neither shall you covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. { Let me put it in modern terms your neighbors country, jobs ,economy,house,ect} Just like GOD has Blessed this country he has made away it"s called the immigration process it works millions have used it[/b]

Amen images! And Welcome