The Disastrous Consequences of Alabama's Anti-Immigration Law

By Progress League

In June 2011 Alabama passed the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, H.B. 56. The law, which took effect in late September, lives up to its billing as the nation’s toughest immigration bill and goes well beyond the Arizona law (S.B. 1070) on which it was based.

H.B. 56 requires schools to check and report the immigration status of their students and bars undocumented students from postsecondary education. It instructs police to demand proof of immigration status from anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally, even on a routine traffic stop or roadblock. It also invalidates any contract knowingly entered into with an illegal alien, including routine agreements such as a rent contract, and makes it a felony for an unauthorized immigrant to enter into a contract with a government entity. Finally, it goes beyond any previous legislation by effectively making it a crime to be undocumented in the state.

This law has numerous negative consequences for Alabama including the following:

Loss of up to $10.8 billion of Alabama’s GDP
Loss of 140,000 jobs
Loss of $264.5 million in state tax revenue

However, probably the greatest loss is the social and civil rights of those living in Alabama. On the first Monday after H.B. 56 went into effect, 2,285 Latino students did not show up to school. Is this really the Alabama that Alabamians want?

Watch this video to hear the answer:

This post was originally published by Progress League.

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Photo: screenshot from Youtube

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Robert K.

7:02AM PDT on May 14, 2012

I was stationed in Huntsville Alabama for 6 months in the late 50s. One day I went to Birmingham with a black friend and we got on a bus. We were forced to sit in the back and the names we were called by ordinary folks were the most disgusting garbage I'd ever heard. I'm dead certain that we would have been murdered if we hadn't been in uniform.

I see nothing much has changed there.

send a green star

LD B.

11:28PM PDT on May 12, 2012

For some, the exercise of power is their life. :(

Past Member .

11:25PM PDT on May 12, 2012

And besides, are of one Earth!!!
Forget political borders!!!

What would those Far Right freaks think of next?
Outlawing long hair, wild fashions, and rock-n-roll??????
Alabama's politicians need to get themselves a friggin' life!!!

That doesn't leave very many states available, does it?

11:22PM PDT on May 12, 2012

Until Alabama stops dwelling in the repressive 1860's
and starts welcoming people of all nations,
regardless of color, and creed, etc.,m
I'm boycotting the state and their products!
I will not associate with any state
that condones oppression!!!

Sarah M.

3:33PM PDT on Mar 13, 2012

Thank you Marjorie L. for telling it how it really is. All the ignorant racists out there desperately need to get a clue. Spread LOVE, not hate, people.

5:04PM PST on Feb 27, 2012

Sandy E. might want to get all of the facts so as to avoid making such fallacious statements.

Sandy E.

4:50PM PST on Feb 27, 2012

What is so wrong with Mexico and since when is it our problem? We are losing a lot more by NOT getting the illegels OUT of the country.

J.L. A.

6:41AM PST on Feb 26, 2012

Has Alabama learned yet? Sounds like all the predicted economic impacts that actually hurt citizens and business have come to pass...........

10:40PM PST on Feb 25, 2012

Terri Lynn M., if and when Americans can themselves supply a sufficiently large source of cheap labor, or are willing and able to bear the price of much more costly legal labor, then we'll talk.

In the mean time, you can't have it both ways.