Legislators divided over Alabama immigration law fix

By Dana Beyerle
Times Montgomery Bureau


Published: Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 6:01 a.m.

MONTGOMERY — Democratic state Sen. Billy Beasley seeks to repeal Alabama’s strict anti-immigration law next year, but Republicans including Gov. Robert Bentley want only to tweak it.

Attorney General Luther Strange has recommended more than tweaks to significant portions of the law that are being challenged in federal court and in the streets by pro-Latino, civil rights and civil liberties interest groups.

Strange’s proposed tweaks would give embattled Republican legislators cover to keep part of the law they passed this year while scrapping onerous, superfluous, redundant and probably illegal portions.

Beasley said the Senate’s 12 Democrats want to repeal the bill. In the Senate, at least 13 Republicans want to tweak it including its co-sponsor, Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston.

Bentley had asked Strange to suggest legal changes. On Friday, Bentley, House Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, and Marsh said they will support unspecified revisions.

“We recognize that changes are needed to ensure that Alabama has not only the nation’s most effective law, but one that is fair and just, promotes economic growth, preserves jobs for those in Alabama legally and can be enforced effectively and without prejudice,â€