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U.S. civil rights groups sue Alabama immigration law

08 July 2011 21:40 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A coalition of civil rights groups on Friday filed a lawsuit against Alabama’s new immigration law which is described as the strictest anti-illegal immigration law in the United States, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The lawsuit alleged that the Alabama law, set to take effect on Sept. 1, is unconstitutional and endangers public safety, invites racial profiling and interferes with federal law.

It charged that the law subjects Alabamians -- including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents -- to unlawful search and seizure, in violation of the Fourth Amendment. It also charged the law deters immigrant families from enrolling their children in public schools, and bars lawfully present immigrants from attending public colleges or universities in Alabama.

The coalition filing the lawsuit includes the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Southern Poverty Law Center, ACLU of Alabama, National Immigration Law Center, Asian Law Caucus and Asian American Justice Center.

"Local Alabama communities and people across the country are shocked and dismayed by the state’s effort to erode our civil rights and fundamental American values," said Cecillia Wang, director of the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project.

The law, signed by Alabama Governor Robert Bentley last month, requires public elementary and secondary schools to determine whether students are illegal immigrants. While it will not bar them from schools, it requires every school district to submit an annual report on the number of presumed illegal immigrants to the state education board.

The law also bans illegal immigrants from receiving any state or local public benefits; bars them from enrolling in or attending college; and prohibits them from applying for or soliciting work.

It outlaws harboring and transporting illegal immigrants, renting them property, and "knowingly" employing them for any work within the state. It also makes it a "discriminatory practice" to fire or fail to hire a legal resident when an illegal one is on the payroll.