By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
A contentious public hearing at the Alabama Statehouse revealed sharp divisions between lawmakers and members of the public over a proposed immigration enforcement bill, as testimony from concerned residents was met with strong pushback from Republican legislators.
State Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, challenged comments suggesting the legislation would lead to racial profiling or increased fear in immigrant communities. Simpson said claims that race or skin color could be used as probable cause for law enforcement interactions have no legal basis and risk creating unnecessary fear.
“When you talk about scaring people and suggest it’s probable cause based on the color of someone’s skin, that initiates fear that has absolutely zero legal basis,” Simpson told the committee. “Those statements have repercussions.”
Simpson’s remarks came after testimony from Rev. Kevin Thomas, senior pastor of First Church Birmingham, who described the fear his adopted daughter from Guatemala experiences amid heightened immigration enforcement. Thomas said his daughter is afraid to leave the house after seeing news coverage of raids and enforcement actions.
“She sees what’s happening and, because of the color of her skin and hair, she’s nervous about being in public,” Thomas said. He added that the family worries about encounters with federal immigration officers and feels pressured to carry documentation, even though U.S. citizens are not required to do so.
Thomas expressed concern that House Bill 13, sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, would further escalate those fears. The bill, known as the Laken Riley Act, would allow local law enforcement agencies to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security to assist with immigration enforcement.
Lawmakers also questioned the motivations of other speakers. After testimony from Diane Oraif, a former immigration attorney, Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, suggested she may be inciting fear for personal gain. Oraif responded that she is semi-retired and no longer actively practices immigration law.
Democratic members of the committee pushed back against the criticism. Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said Alabama has a documented history of racial profiling, making the fears expressed by residents reasonable. Rep. Prince Chestnut, D-Selma, cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling acknowledging that perceived ethnicity and limited English proficiency can factor into immigration stops.
The committee is expected to revisit HB13 for a vote next week, as debate over the bill continues.
