A group of State Representatives have introduced a package of bills to target illegal immigration. The House-led effort announced today comes alongside a separate package that advanced the Alabama Senate last week.
Lawmakers say their goal is to toughen and support the crackdown on illegal immigration from the federal level, which has quickly become a whole-of-government approach since President Trump took office last month.
State Reps. Ben Robbins, Jennifer Fidler, Brock Colvin, Chip Brown and Jamie Kiel introduced bills on Wednesday targeting illegal immigration.
HB302 by State Rep. Ben Robbins (R-Sylacauga) would regulate labor brokers recruiting foreign workers to Alabama by requiring registration with the Department of Workforce, mandatory use of E-Verify and compliance with sponsorship reporting requirements.
Employers would be required to disclose foreign worker immigration details, and sponsors of lawful aliens would be held financially liable for unfulfilled support obligations, such as public benefits.
RELATED: Senators crack down on illegal immigrants in Alabama by passing trio of bills
“This bill protects Alabamians hard earned tax dollars by making legal immigrants pay taxes, preventing immigrants from taking benefits they do not deserve, and holding sponsors fiscally responsible,” State Rep. Robbins (R-Sylacauga) said.
After negotiations with stakeholders like the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA), the Business Council of Alabama (BCA), employers and small businesses across the state, lawmakers arrived on a proposal to grant enforcement authority to the Secretary of Workforce and Attorney General, imposing fines, penalties and potential business revocation for noncompliance.
“We are putting an end to circumventing the system,” Robbins said. “Alabama will have the most protected workforce in America, and we will take a hard stand against shadowy figures trafficking humans into Alabama to exploit cheap labor.”
Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said the consequences of the Biden administration’s open border policy will be felt for years to come if state lawmakers don’t equally address the issue.
“Our school systems’ ELL programs have been pushed to the brink, housing in rural and urban communities has become even more challenging and local governments have been forced to support people who are either here illegally or protected under politically motivated asylum statuses,” Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said.
“While President Trump has made great progress in securing the Southern Border, it is important that we take action to secure Alabama’s border,” Ledbetter added.
HB298 by Rep. Brock Colvin (R-Albertville) would exclude certain English language learner students from a public school’s average daily membership when determining athletic competition classification.
RELATED: State lawmakers call for action following immigrant drop-offs in Marshall County
“This bill is designed to protect student-athletes in communities like Albertville, Boaz, Russellville and many others that have had to move to higher athletic classifications due to a significant influx of immigrants,” said Rep. Colvin. “By ensuring clear regulations and a level playing field, this legislation will restore both safety and fairness to high school sports, preserving the integrity of competition for all athletes.”
HB297 by Rep. Jennifer Fidler would impose a 4% wire transfer fee on international money transfers originating from Alabama. A portion of the revenue generated by this fee would go to county sheriffs, who are now are now housing ICE detainees in the jails, and ELL programs in public schools. Alabama residents would be able to receive a tax credit to offset the transfer fees.
“Alabama has experienced an unprecedented influx of illegal immigrants over the past four years,” Fidler (R-Fairhope) said.
“These individuals often come to our state to work in various jobs, some of which are not subject to state income tax. Many send their earnings out of the country and, in some cases, to the cartels that facilitated their crossing.
Fidler says the bill’s primary objective is to support communities that have been burdened by this immigrant influx by ensuring that 2.5% of the wire transfer fee comes back to the county where the wire transfer originated.
“This helps pay for educating English Language Learners and health needs that affected communities are now absorbing. The other 1.5% will help pay for law enforcement’s deportation process of illegal immigrants. HB297 has a sunset so that the legislative body can ensure that funding is aiding affected areas in the future. HB297 ensures that international wire transfers are subject to a fee comparable to the tax level of every other law-abiding citizen.”
Senate lawmakers are prepared to deal on the issue of an international wire tax, carried by State Sen. April Weaver (R-Briarfield), and have already advanced the bill through committee, but measures dealing with revenue must originate in the House.
HB3 by Rep. Chip Brown would mandate enhanced sentencing for illegal aliens convicted of felonies against minors and upgrades misdemeanor offenses against minors to Class C felonies.
“As lawmakers, protecting children must always be our top priority, and this legislation ensures that those who prey on minors face the full force of the law,” Brown (R- Hollinger’s Island) said.
“By imposing stronger penalties on illegal immigrants who commit these crimes, we are making it clear that Alabama will not be a safe haven for lawbreakers. We will enforce a zero-tolerance policy and use every tool at our disposal to ensure that those who come here illegally and harm our children face the harshest consequences possible.”
HB304 by State Rep. Jamie Kiel would authorize the impoundment of vehicles operated unlawfully by individuals without a valid driver’s license, which is a common occurrence among illegal immigrants.
It would also restricts local governments from issuing identification cards, which could otherwise be used by illegal aliens to circumvent state laws.
“This bill is about enforcing the law and ensuring roads, highways and interstates across Alabama are safe,” Kiel (R-Russellville) said.
“If someone is in our state illegally and operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license, they pose a significant risk to everyone on the road. By impounding unlawfully operated vehicles and restricting local governments from issuing IDs that could be misused, we are making Alabama a safer place for its citizens.”
Today is day eight of the 2025 state legislative session. Lawmakers will consider these bills next Wednesday in committee.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
