Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is voicing her support for President Trump’s plan to deport undocumented immigrants.
Ivey joined 25 other Republican governors Thursday in a statement in favor of deportation of undocumented immigrants.
“As Republican governors, we stand united in support of President Donald Trump’s unwavering commitment to make America safe again by addressing the illegal immigration crisis and deporting illegal immigrants who pose a threat to our communities and national security,” the statement said.
The governors criticized the Biden Administration for failing to secure the nation’s borders and took credit for stepping in to fill the void.
“We mobilized state resources, including law enforcement and National Guard units, to protect Americans from disastrous open border policies and prevent illegal immigration from overwhelming our country,” they said.
The governors said dangerous criminals, gang members and terrorists who are in the country without permission should be the focus of deportation efforts. They promised to do whatever is within their authority to help the effort.
“Together, we will continue to defend the American people, uphold the rule of law and ensure our nation remains safe and secure for future generations,” they said.
“The time for action is now. Together, we will make America safe again.”
The statement comes as some in Alabama’s immigrant community said they felt anxiety about deportation.
Worry and uncertainty about the future permeate immigrant communities in Alabama, Carlos Aleman, executive director of HICA, a non-profit that focuses on helping immigrants build prosperity, has said.
“We’re just encouraging people to inform themselves and to make themselves aware of what rights they already have,” he said. “We’re definitely hearing concerns, but it hasn’t necessarily led to a mass exodus of any sort.”
Aleman said it is not possible to know how many undocumented immigrants are in Alabama.
He estimates about 20 percent of the Latino immigrant population is undocumented.
According to the American Immigration Council, about 3.6 percent of the state’s population are foreign-born. Immigrants make up about 9.1 percent of entrepreneurs in the state and 12.1 percent of construction workers.
Here is the statement in its entirety:
“As Republican governors, we stand united in support of President Donald Trump’s unwavering commitment to make America safe again by addressing the illegal immigration crisis and deporting illegal immigrants who pose a threat to our communities and national security.
“When the Biden Administration refused to secure our borders and uphold the rule of law, it was Republican governors who took action. We mobilized state resources, including law enforcement and National Guard units, to protect Americans from disastrous open border policies and prevent illegal immigration from overwhelming our country.
“We are proud to welcome President Trump back to the White House, a leader who has consistently put America first. His leadership is exactly what our nation needs to restore law and order at the border, and we are eager to work alongside his Administration to tackle the critical challenges facing our nation.
“Republican governors remain fully committed to supporting the Trump Administration’s efforts to deport dangerous criminals, gang members and terrorists who are in this country illegally. We understand the direct threat these criminal illegal immigrants pose to public safety and our national security, and we will do everything in our power to assist in removing them from our communities.
“Together, we will continue to defend the American people, uphold the rule of law and ensure our nation remains safe and secure for future generations. We stand ready to utilize every tool at our disposal—whether through state law enforcement or the National Guard—to support President Trump in this vital mission.
