Alabama immigration law changes may prompt hot debate

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Weeks of negotiations and protests could be coming to a crescendo today as state senators are expected to finally debate changes to the state`s immigration law, including a new proposal that would leave some key provisions of the law unchanged.

Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said he wants senators to vote today after they were given overnight to study a proposed substitute bill by Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale. Beason said the bill is a result of talks with the sponsor of a House-passed bill and others. He said the proposal would make the law easier on law-abiding citizens and more enforceable against illegal immigrants.

“It claries some of the things that I believe were misinterpreted. It maintains the law and I think it makes it more enforceable because officials will know and understand what they are being asked to do,” Beason said.

The new proposal, unlike the House-passed bill, would keep two of the most controversial provisions of the original 2011 law — ones that would require checks of students` citizenship status and allow officers to question and detain people suspected of being illegal immigrants. Critics of the state`s original law on Wednesday night called Beason`s proposal a step backward.

“I`m kind of blown away by how terrible it is,” said Mary Bauer, legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which challenged Alabama`s original law in court. “We don`t get any substantial reform, and we get new provisions that are deeply disturbing.”

New provisions include a requirement that the court system publish a quarterly report summarizing cases in which a person unlawfully in the country was detained and appeared in court. The report would include the name of the person.

“It seems to us it`s some sort of scarlet letter to encourage vigilantism,” Bauer said.

Beason said the intent of that provision was to find out how the law is being enforced across the state.

“It`s no different than when I go into a store and there`s a pamphlet with everybody that`s been caught for shoplifting,” Beason said.

A provision of the original law that came under much criticism was one to check students` citizenship status. But Beason said he sees no problem with asking parents of new school enrollees about citizenship status.

“Our section asks for a birth certificate just like when I had to enroll my children in school I had to provide birth certificates. I don`t think that is too much to ask,” Beason said.

Students without proof of citizenship would not be blocked from enrolling, under Beason`s bill.

The proposed substitute also would leave unchanged the part of the law that allows officers to question and detain people during traffic stops when he or she has a “reasonable suspicion” the person is in the country illegally. The House-passed bill would have limited those inquiries to times when a ticket is issued or a person arrested.

Beason said that portion of Alabama`s 2011 law is nearly identical to Arizona`s law, which is before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Other changes in the bill include limiting when people have to show proof of citizenship in transactions with governments and clarifying what qualifies as proof of citizenship. Beason said he thought critics exaggerated the 2011 law`s intent. “We are doing our best to make sure we clear up what is hypersensitivity about a piece of legislation,” Beason said.

Senators on a 14-20 vote Wednesday rejected an effort by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, to bring up his bill to repeal the immigration law. Beasley and others said the 2011 law has harmed children, families, farmers, businesses and others.

“I think it is a painful law on many families in Alabama as well as on the business interests in the state of Alabama,” Beasley said.

“Picking on people because of the color of their skin has never served this state well or served this country well,” Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, said. Bedford voted for the 2011 law but said he regrets that decision.

But other lawmakers said the law is wanted by the majority of Alabamians.

“Repeal is not a popular option. I think people by and large support the immigration law,” Marsh said.

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