ImmigrationFearful immigrants trickle back into Alabama
After Alabama enacted its tough new immigration laws last September, the state saw a large exodus of fearful immigrants who packed up their entire families and fled the state; since the law went into effect, some illegal immigrants have begun returning to the state
After Alabama enacted its tough new immigration laws last September, the state saw a large exodus of fearful immigrants who packed up their entire families and fled the state. Since the law went into effect, some illegal immigrants have begun returningto the state.
“Little by little, it’s been calming down,” Gabby Sullivan, who has been working with community groups in Robertsdale, Alabama, told HispanicBusiness.com.
Still fearful that they will be apprehended by police or that Republican lawmakers will renege on their promise to make minor adjustments to the law, Sullivan said immigrants are still living “with one foot out of the state, ready to flee for good.”
Evelyn Servin, the director of the North Alabama Hispanic Coalition for Equal Rights, told HispanicBusiness.com that many of the immigrants working in poultry plants around Russellville have been forced to change their lives to minimize being seen.
“People are still afraid to go out,” Servin said. “Many of them go grocery shopping at night when they can’t be seen in their cars. A lot of them are just staying home and not going anywhere.”
Under the controversial Alabama immigration law, known as HB 56, police are allowed to check the immigration status of drivers, public schools must determine if students are legal residents, illegal immigrants are barred from doing business with the state, and individuals are prohibited from knowingly helping or working with illegal aliens.
