Bentley and Hubbard React to Alabama Immigration Law Ruling

From the Office of Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard

MONTGOMERY – Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard today reacted to a ruling from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding critical provisions of Alabama’s law cracking down on illegal immigration. Speaker Hubbard released the following statement:

“Once again the real teeth of Alabama’s illegal immigration law have been upheld as constitutional. The Court has again affirmed critical sections authorizing law enforcement to check the legal status of those suspected of being in the country illegally. It is certainly promising that revisions made this past legislative session resulted in injunctions being lifted on both sections 8 and 30, which restrict illegal aliens from receiving public post-secondary education benefits and doing business with the state. The Legislature will continue to take a look at sections the Court had a problem with to see what revisions might need to be made going forward.

“Overall Alabama continues to have a strict and enforceable illegal immigration law, and that’s not going to change.”

Once again the “real teeth” of Alabama’s illegal immigration law have been upheld as constitutional. #alpolitics

— Mike Hubbard (@SpeakerHubbard) August 20, 2012

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From the Office of Governor Robert Bentley

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley on Monday issued the following statement regarding the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Alabama’s immigration law:

“The essence of Alabama’s immigration law has been upheld by today’s ruling. The Court is recognizing the state’s authority to inquire on immigration status in certain circumstances. The Court is also allowing the public records transaction provision to continue to be enforced.

“This law is needed because the federal government has refused to enforce its own policies. The federal government has also failed to approach immigration reform in a comprehensive manner.

“The core of Alabama’s immigration law remains that if you live or work in the state, you should do so legally. It is time now to move past court battles and focus on enforcement of Alabama’s law. We worked closely with legislators to clarify, simplify, and strengthen Alabama’s immigration law this year, and the essence of that law has been upheld.”