Immigration Legislation in Alabama

     Alabama Legislators will be back on the job Monday after Spring Break (taken after less than two weeks in session), and one of the bills they'll be considering is an Arizona-styled anti-immigration law. The bill is headed for debate in the House after approval by a committee.

     Legislators may want to consider the Arizona experience, where the anti-immigration backlash has resulted in a significant downturn in tourism, also a significant part of the Alabama economy.

     The impact was so negative in Arizona that five bills intended to toughen the already tough anti-immigration law have been rejected after pressure by the business community.

     Alabama's legislation was sponsored by Micky Hammon (R-Decatur) with 23 co-sponsors. It allows police to demand proof of citizenship from someone stopped for another crime, if  "'a reasonable suspicion exists that person is an unauthorized alien.''

     In The Montgomery Advertiser earlier this month, Sebastian Kitchen quotes a legal advocacy group as saying the legislation would result in a $17 Million decrease in tourism in the state. That just happens to be the amount of money BP provided to Alabama recently in a grant to attract tourists. A wash!