Background: SB53, if passed, will establish a process for law enforcement agencies in Alabama to determine the immigration status of individuals in custody. The legislation would also create a new state-level crime for “harboring or concealing a person without legal immigration status,” criminalizing those who provide shelter, transportation, or assistance to undocumented individuals. Federal law already prohibits harboring or concealing undocumented immigrants under 8 U.S.C. § 1324.
Our Position: We oppose SB53. This bill attempts to create a new state-level crime for an act that is already covered under federal law, unnecessarily expanding state enforcement into immigration matters. SB53 increases the risk of racial profiling and criminalizes individuals providing basic humanitarian aid. Immigration enforcement should remain a federal responsibility, and Alabama should not adopt policies that encourage discrimination and fear within immigrant communities.
