The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments last week involving the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Section 5 of the Act is being challenged by Shelby County, Alabama, saying that the provision was necessary in 1695 when there was voter suppression to African Americans, but that discrimination is “non-existent today.” Supporters of the protection of the Voting […]
Supreme Court’s Decision on Arizona’s SB 1070 Will Influence Other States
May 1, 2012 By
States across the country are waiting for the Supreme Court’s ruling on Arizona’s controversial immigration law before implementing their own anti-immigrant measures. “We’re getting our national network ready to run with the ball, and saturate state legislatures with versions of the law,” says William Gheen, President of Americans for Legal Immigration. “We believe we can […]
U.S. Supreme Court Hears Arizona Immigration Law Case Today
April 25, 2012 By
The U.S. Supreme Court will begin to hear arguments in the Arizona Immigration Law case today to decide the constitutionality of this law and to bring light to the potential need for restructuration of the nation’s immigration system. “This decision will make very clear what the law is when it comes to immigration,” says SEIU […]
Alabama’s controversial immigration law has made its way to the UN
April 4, 2012 By
A coalition of union and civil rights groups have filed a complaint with the United Nations International Labor Organization alleging that Alabama’s harsh anti-immigrant law violates international norms. “By signing this bill into law, Brewer has just authorized violating the rights of millions of people living and working here,” said Alessandra Soler Meetze, Executive Director […]
Alabama’s Anti-Immigrant Law Backfires, Creating a New Civil Rights Movement
March 5, 2012 By
Alabama’s show-me-your-papers law, HB56, threatens to turn the clock back to a time when hardworking men and women were persecuted because of the color of their skin. The law legitimizes racial profiling, terrorizes people of color throughout the state, frightens children, and harms the state’s economy. Sound familiar? Alabama’s past — post emancipation years characterized […]
Controversial Immigration Law Costs Alabama $11 Billion
February 6, 2012 By
Alabama’s controversial anti-immigrant law, which requires police to detain people they suspect of being in the U.S. undocumented, has cost the state’s economy up to $11 billion. According to a new study conducted by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, the state would lose between $1.2 to $5.8 billion in earnings […]
10 House Democrats Head to Alabama Monday for Immigration Hearing
November 18, 2011 By
A Statement From The Office of Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and nine other House Democrats are traveling to Alabama on Monday for an ad hoc hearing on immigration and Alabama’s HB56 immigration law. A group of five of those traveling held a press conference today in Washington to discuss the trip. […]
Alabama’s Tough Immigration Law, 36 Days Later
November 4, 2011 By
Thirty-six days after the implementation of Alabama’s HB 56, immigrants have fled jobs in record numbers, Latino children are still absent from school and crops of Alabama’s $5.5 billion-agricultural industry are rotting in the fields. Thousands of immigrants have left their jobs, which has left many small businesses understaffed and construction projects unfinished, including rebuilding […]
Employers in Alabama face Labor Shortages, Threats and Boycotts for Defending Latino Workers
October 21, 2011 By
Since the harsh anti-immigrant law in Alabama went into effect last month, employers in the agriculture and restaurant industries have been dealing with the aftermath of labor shortages and even threats and boycotts for defending Latino workers. While farmers took the immediate hits following the law’s implementation, seeing an exodus of Latino laborers and watching […]
Alabama Latino Students Continue to Miss School over Tough Immigration Law
October 5, 2011 By
A record number of Latino students in Alabama continue to miss classes in the wake of the state’s tough immigration law, even as school officials clamor to reassure parents they have nothing to fear. On Monday alone 2,285 Latino students missed school, according to data from the Alabama Department of Education. U.S. District Judge Sharon […]
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