Alabama’s New Immigration Law Sparks Moral Crisis
Has Alabama's new immigration law created a human rights crisis?
In what has been labeled as the toughest immigration law in the country, the H.B. 56, or Alabama’s new immigration law, has sent illegal or undocumented immigrants into hiding and human rights advocates stomping.
Even the White House has expressed its opinion on the ill effects of the law:
“The Obama administration asked an appeals court on Friday to block the enforcement of Alabama’s strict immigration law… arguing it invites discrimination against foreign-born citizens and legal immigrants and is at odds with federal policy.”
As a matter of fact, it does not only go against federal policy, it also experiences conflict within state policy:
“On October 24, Alabama Circuit Judge Scott Vowell issued an opinion that suggested that the provision may violate the Alabama state constitution. The state constitution requires that no law impairs ‘the obligation of contracts by destroying or impairing the remedy for their enforcement.’ As it turns out, state officials will not only have to defend their immigration law in federal court, but also at home.”
The provision being referred to that comes into conflict with state policy is the one that “prevents undocumented immigrants from enforcing virtually all contracts, essentially permitting the wholesale exploitation of undocumented individuals.”
The loss of their right to contracts, which serve as protective measures in any engagement is only one of the many provisions that seem to make the experience of living on American soil “hell” for illegal immigrants.
The H.B. 56 is also apparently doing its damage to undocumented immigrants’ health as it “requires proof of lawful status for any ‘business transaction’ with any state or political subdivision. It also requires everyone to show their papers when requested by any law enforcement official, public utility or government agency, or school official. These laws will mean fewer people seeking preventative health care, less food security, and unsafe water supplies, among other things.”
Other harsh provisions associated with Alabama’s new immigration law are:
“Enrolling [in] college (even if paying tuition), renting a house, applying for a job or claiming unpaid salaries will become crimes.
Primary and secondary schools will be required to check children’s immigration status as well as that of their parents. Schools will have to publish the total number of enrolled immigrants, regardless of status, and report to taxpayers any costs generated by immigrant students.”
Undocumented immigrants are also forbidden from being hired. Likewise, US citizens are forbidden to contract, shelter, lease property, or even offer a ride to undocumented immigrants.
“Employers are obligated to use the federal program E-Verify to check employee and new hire immigration status.”
Provisions also exist for police to stop and inspect anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant.
One of the harshest spin-offs of the “no contracts” provision is the one that would consider it a crime for an undocumented immigrant to have access to running water or any government utility. This goes in accordance with considering it “a felony for undocumented immigrants to contract with any governmental entity.”
Not only does Alabama’s new immigration law present an economic crisis that projects approximately 17,819 jobs lost, it also brings to the surface a moral crisis affects a much larger albeit deeper scope — human rights.
Filed Under: Immigration Laws
