Alabama's Attorney General makes claims about "Illegal Aliens"

Alabama Attorney General, Luther Strange, testifying before Congress. Photo by lutherstrange.

Excerpts from the Immigration Impact by Wendy Sefsaf
Oct 12, 2011

 CLAIM:     Yesterday, Alabama’s Attorney General claimed that “illegal aliens” make up a substantial portion of the state’s prison population.
   FACT:   Alabama's prison population: 31,000  --   182 of which are currently subject to deportation based on holds placed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  That is about 1/2 of one percent.

    CLAIM:     Yesterday, Alabama’s Attorney General claimed “many of these people are taking jobs away from United States citizens."
     FACT:         Alabamas unemployment rate hovers around 10%.   To say that one undocumented worker fired is one documented worker hired might be politically expedient, but the research actually shows just the opposite. Undocumented workers tend to have different skills, education, and experience levels than native-born workers. In fact, if a 1 to 1 worker replacement was the answer, why is the Governor considering using the prison population to alleviate a severe worker shortage on Alabama farms? Where are all those unemployed Americans waiting to work in the fields?

   CLAIM:     The Alabama’s Attorney General claims there are "difficulties in collecting taxes from these persons ["illegal aliens"], many of whom work off the books, means that many of them are utilizing Alabama’s public resources without paying their fair share.”
    FACT:      According to the Institute on Tax and Economic Policy, undocumented immigrants in Alabama pay $25 million in income taxes, $5.8 million in property taxes, and $98 million in sales taxes, for a total contribution of more than $130 million.

 The actual costs to Alabama’s economy have yet to be determined, and no real estimates have been provided by the lawmakers behind HB56. It has always been the case that estimating the costs and contributions of unauthorized immigrants is not an exact science. But Alabama is about to make it a bit easier. No longer will losing your undocumented population be an abstract proposition. In Alabama it’s about to be a reality, and with it the economic ramifications of a mass exodus of workers, consumers, and taxpayers from an already struggling state economy.

See more from the source:  http://immigrationimpact.com/2011/10/12/the-facts-and-numbers-don%e2%80%99t-matter-in-alabama/

New Alabama Law: Crops rot in the field

Nueva ley de inmigración de Alabama.  Es el más severa de los EEUU.  Los partidarios dicen que la norma debe producir más trabajo para los ciudadanos mientras que las voces criticas aseguran que saca los derechos civiles. Pero la cosecha se pudre en los campos y los agricultores no pueden encontrar trabajadores suficientes para cosechar, porque la mayoría de los trabajadores - legales y sin papeles - han salido los trabajos y han huido.  Tambien, los administradores de cárceles se preocupan que no tienen espacio ni capacidad para detener más personas.

New immigration law in Alabama.  It's the most severe in the US.  Supporters say that the rule should produce more work for citizens while critics claim that it robs some of civil rights.  But food is rotting in the fields and farmers are unable to find sufficient workers to harvest their crops, since most of the workers have left their jobs and departed from the area.  Jail administrators are also concerned since they don't have the capacity to hold detainees.

History of Immigration in U.S.

The history of immigration in the U.S. centers in Ellis Island, though some entered through the West coast as well as our northern and southern borders.  The following documentary reminds us of our common condition.

Alabama HB 56 anti immigration law still undecided

Federal Judge Sharon Blackburn is pondering one of the most anti-immigrant proposals to come before the court.  It is HB 56 from Alabama.  Proponents say it should open up work opportunities for unemployed US citizens in construction and farm labor.  But farmers say their crops are rotting in the fields.

The law makes it a crime to have an undocumented person in your vehicle or to rent to or have someone stay in your home who lacks proper paperwork.

From Inmigrante TV:

Alabama. Tras la audiencia ante la jueza federal Sharon Blackburn para suspender la polémica ley HB 56 de Alabama, ella aún no emite una resolución.
La jueza se reunió por más de nueve horas con los abogados del Gobierno Federal y una coalición de grupos de derechos civiles, que argumentaron que la ley, que entra en vigor el 1 de septiembre, denigra los derechos civiles.
Así mismo enfatizaron que el tema de la inmigración debe ser regulado por el Gobierno Federal y no por los estados.
William Orrick, vicefiscal federal, afirmó ante la jueza que no hay espacio para que los estados estén legislando en este tema.
La polémica HB 56 fue promulgada en junio por el gobernador Robert Bentley, es considerada una de las más duras contra los inmigrantes indocumentados. Desde su firma,  muchos inmigrantes indocumentados se marcharon del estado de Alabama. Esto provocó que agricultores y empresas de construcción enfrentaran escasez de mano de obra, y que las cosechas se estén echando a perder en los campos.
Quienes respaldan la ley aseguran que aislará a los trabajadores que no tengan un estatus legal de Alabama, y dejará vacantes disponibles para ciudadanos desempleados. Por otra parte, afirman que se ahorrarán fondos al estado vinculados con gastos de salud y educación.
Sin embargo, sus opositores advierten que impulsa la discriminación, viola derechos como libertad de expresión y libre tránsito y afecta a las compañías.
La HB 56 autoriza a la policía a solicitar documentos migratorios a personas sospechosas de estar indocumentadas en el país, que sean detenidas por infracciones de tránsito. También prohíbe que personas transporten o alberguen a inmigrantes sin papeles y criminaliza a quienes lo hagan.

See more articles on immigration:  http://blog.inmigrantetv.com/?p=8520