Alabama's new immigration law - easily the toughest anti-immigrant/Hispanic law in the US - has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Sharon Blackburn, a US District Judge in Birmingham, has delayed enforcement of the new legislation till September to determine its constitutionality. This is great news for those of us who oppose this ridiculous, inhumane law which quite literally threatens to make criminals out of almost anyone who interacts with Hispanics without first putting on an Immigration Inquisition hat and demanding (not necessarily with a Gestapo tone or while wearing a monocle) "Vhere are your Papers!!" - or so it seems.
As per Brian Lyman of The Montgomery Advertiser:
"The law, signed by Gov. Robert Bentley on June 9, 2011 makes it a state crime to be an undocumented alien in Alabama. It also gives law enforcement the ability to detain those they have 'reasonable suspicion' of being in the country illegally, and also provides non-criminal sanctions to businesses that knowingly hire undocumented aliens.
"The law also makes it a crime to harbor or transport undocumented aliens, including giving them rides to workplaces. It also makes contracts with undocumented aliens null and void and forbids renting property to undocumented aliens." (complete article here)
Kudos to Judge Blackburn for not caving in to popular "Us vs. Them" hysteria and at least temporarily putting a hold on what will be, if enacted, tremendously important and potentially devastating legislation. And another stain on this Great Nation's track record. Let's hope that cooler heads prevail and this excessive, unnecessarily, and ultimately hateful law is stopped before it can even take effect.
Kudos also to the many other cool-headed judges across the country, interested only in applying the laws consistent with our Constitution, in striking down or restricting other offensive laws in other states. Churches, non-religious groups, Consumers' Rights groups and many other organizations and individuals have stepped forward - including by seeking this injunction, and they deserve recognition for these efforts. Meanwhile, many politicians - worried about the xenophobe vote, perhaps - sat silent, or, worse, took steps in support of radical anti-Hispanic/immigrant legislation to appease the very vocal anti-Hispanic rabble.
Kudos to Judge Blackburn for not caving in to popular "Us vs. Them" hysteria and at least temporarily putting a hold on what will be, if enacted, tremendously important and potentially devastating legislation. And another stain on this Great Nation's track record. Let's hope that cooler heads prevail and this excessive, unnecessarily, and ultimately hateful law is stopped before it can even take effect.
Kudos also to the many other cool-headed judges across the country, interested only in applying the laws consistent with our Constitution, in striking down or restricting other offensive laws in other states. Churches, non-religious groups, Consumers' Rights groups and many other organizations and individuals have stepped forward - including by seeking this injunction, and they deserve recognition for these efforts. Meanwhile, many politicians - worried about the xenophobe vote, perhaps - sat silent, or, worse, took steps in support of radical anti-Hispanic/immigrant legislation to appease the very vocal anti-Hispanic rabble.
I have mixed feelings with this immigration polivy. Those who are making a good, decent living, let them stay. Those who are committing crimes (all types of criminal activities) should be deported.
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