Alabama Immigration Law Softened by Settlement

On October 21, 2013, Alabama officials announced that they have reached a settlement with various immigrant and civil rights groups that provides for the removal of many of the harshest provisions contained in Alabama’s H.B. 56, The Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer & Citizen Protection Act. The settlement still must be approved by the court. The settlement eliminates provisions requiring public schools to determine students’ immigration statuses, making it illegal for anyone to conceal, harbor, or shield unauthorized immigrants, and invalidating contracts entered into by unauthorized immigrants, among other things. Notably, the settlement also contains an acknowledgement that local law enforcement cannot detain an individual solely on suspicion that the individual is an unauthorized immigrant. While a victory for unauthorized immigrants, H.B. 56 still maintains some of its teeth. E-Verify remains mandatory for Alabama employers, and unauthorized immigrants will still find it difficult to obtain certain state-provided items, such as driver’s licenses, license plates, and business licenses, without proof of lawful status. To find out how H.B. 56 will affect you or your business, call Johnstone Adams at (251) 432-7682 or toll-free at (866) 732-3267, or visit our Website.

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