DOJ CHALLENGES ALABAMA IMMIGRATION LAW

Washington D.C.: Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released a statement in response to Department of Justice’s announcement that they have filed suit challenging the state of Alabama’s recently passed immigration law, H.B. 56.

“I applaud the Department of Justice’s decision to challenge this deeply regressive and dangerous law from going into effect, preserve the federal government’s power to set immigration policy, and ensure that other states do not follow Alabama’s unconstitutional lead.

“These provisions create an environment for racial profiling and drag Alabama back to the era when a class of persons was considered less than human in the eyes of the law. Alabama’s attempt to close the schoolhouse door is fundamentally at odds with our nation’s commitments to due process, fairness, and equal protection of the laws. Its draconian array of immigration enforcement will deter Latinos from going out in public to perform basic daily tasks for fear of being stopped by the police.

“By challenging this shameful law, the Justice Department is defending our fundamental American values and the strong national interest, inherent in our Constitution’s design, in a uniform and consistent federal immigration system free from state interference and hostility.”