President Obama Challenges Harsh New Alabama Immigration Law
Friday, October 7, the Obama Administration requested that the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals block a harsh new immigration law in Alabama (HB 56) on the grounds that legal citizens would be more susceptible to difficulty and scrutiny. A federal judge has since denied the President’s requests to block certain revisions until the Department of Justice appeals the ruling supporting the law. The Department of Justice has already said that key provisions of the measure clash with federal law could likely harm international relations. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley says he will remain dedicated to the law, which requires all immigrants to carry documents, schools to confirm students’ and parents’ immigration status, and the police to verify all detainees’ immigration status.
President Barack Obama and the federal government have sued to halt the Alabama law, utilizing not only their governmental checks and balances, but also federal power to stymie legislation in the states. However, his administration’s argument that legal immigrants would be exposed to new difficulties and discrimination is not a strong one. The immediate impact of HB 56, which is in effect while the Department of Justice reviews the law, has resulted in many children and workers simply staying home. The President also disapproved of similar legislation in Utah and Georgia earlier this year. Mr. Obama is now pushing for a more “comprehensive immigration reform” to strengthen national borders and grant a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, much to the disapproval of Republicans and states’ rights activists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU8GpaKq7O4 (embedding disabled for this video)
Article: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65424.html
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