Alabama: No Way to Live Under Immigration Law

Most of the unauthorized immigrants Human Rights Watch interviewed have lived in the US for at least 10 years, and many have US citizen children. These numbers are mirrored nationwide, as recent research shows nearly two-thirds of unauthorized immigrants have lived in the US at least 10 years, and nearly half are parents of minor children. What is happening in Alabama demonstrates that enforcement-only efforts targeted at unauthorized immigrants are likely also to compromise the rights of US citizens and permanent residents and to harm the communities and economies that depend on them.

“Over and over in Alabama, we heard immigrants assert their humanity and declare, ‘Legal or illegal, I’m human,’” Meng said. “Alabama should recognize the humanity and fundamental rights of all the state’s residents and immediately repeal the Beason-Hammon Act.”