Alabama House Advances Immigration Bills Amid Legislative Push
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — In a notable move on Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives advanced two significant bills as part of a broader initiative targeting illegal immigration, sending one to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk and forwarding another to the Senate for concurrence. However, the momentum of the broader legislative package may falter as the 2025 session nears its end.
The approved legislation includes Senate Bill 53 (SB53), which mandates local law enforcement to verify the immigration status of arrested individuals and criminalizes the transportation of undocumented immigrants into Alabama. Additionally, Senate Bill 63 (SB63) requires law enforcement to collect DNA samples from arrested undocumented immigrants to expedite documentation processes.
State Representative Ben Robbins, who sponsored SB53, emphasized its two main objectives: to formalize current practices regarding the verification of immigrant detainees and to establish penalties for human smuggling. A revised version of the bill subsequently passed, expanding exemptions for health care providers and religious organizations. However, Democrats raised concerns about the bill’s potential broad impact, citing possible unintended consequences for family members seeking medical treatment across state lines.
SB63, carried by Rep. Mark Shirey, aims to streamline the documentation of undocumented immigrants by allowing state agencies to collect fingerprints and DNA samples, significantly reducing wait times compared to federal processes.
Despite the positive reception for these measures, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter indicated that the comprehensive immigration package may not be fully realized before the session concludes. "We might not get all of those out, but it does look like we made pretty good progress on that,” Ledbetter stated.
As the legislative session progresses, Alabama’s approach to illegal immigration continues to draw scrutiny and debate among lawmakers.
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