In the past week, I’ve seen both good and bad news coming out of the states. Positive developments continue in the issuance of driver’s licenses to deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) recipients, as both Oregon and North Carolina confirmed DACA recipients’ license eligibility. As these states seek to welcome immigrants, I’m disappointed to report that Alabama continues on a different route.
As you may remember, in 2012, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down portions of HB 56 , Alabama’s anti-immigrant law. Last week, the state asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a provision of the legislation that makes it a crime to assist or shelter undocumented migrants.
Last year, when the Supreme Court took up a similar case considering SB 1070, LIRS joined two amicus briefs opposing that Arizona law. In a victory for welcome, the Court struck down three of SB 1070’s four challenged provisions.
I hope that as Alabama does not succeed in reopening the conversation on HB 56, and that our nation moves one step closer to federal, compassionate immigration reform.