Local Immigrants React To Alabama's New Law On Immigration

Migrants Say They're Concerned As Some Plan To Leave State

Nick Banaszak

WHNT News 19 Reporter

9:47 p.m. CDT, June 12, 2011
HUNTSVILLE, AL—

The ink is barely dry, but Alabama's new immigration law may already be making an impact.

WHNT News 19 talked to several local immigrants from Mexico on Sunday, with some of them already making plans to leave town because of it. A few admitted to crossing the border illegally, and said going back home will likely be their next move due to the new law and a slumping economy.


"Right now people hear the news, they're leaving for Mexico," said Mexican native Leo Martinez. Martinez said he was working in America on a visa, but that many of his friends and workers were not.

Alabama's landmark immigration law is considered by supporters and critics alike to be the toughest of its kind in the entire nation. It allows local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants on sight, provided they are pulled over or detained for a separate violation and are then unable to verify their citizenship. The law also requires businesses and schools to verify that workers and students are legal citizens.

"I think it will scare a lot of parents, you know what I mean," said Martinez. When asked if he thought migrants were breaking the law by entering the country illegally, he gave a mixed response. "Yeah they are, but you know what I mean, there's nothing to do right now because the economy is rough."

Another immigrant who admitted he entered the country illegally told WHNT News 19 that he would possibly leave Alabama soon.

"I think that it's not good for us," said Pedro Cruz, who confirmed his status as a non-citizen. "We only want to work, we came here to work. We may have to go somewhere else to work."

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