Question 1

What prompted Alabama to pass such a strict immigration law?

Accepted Answer

Factors like rapid Hispanic population growth, economic stress from the Great Recession, increased anti-immigrant political rhetoric and frustration over the lack of federal reforms led Alabama legislators to approve one of the toughest immigration enforcement laws in the country.

Question 2

What parts of the Alabama law were overturned?

Accepted Answer

Major provisions overturned include schools checking student immigration status, banning rental housing for undocumented immigrants, requiring detention solely to check legal status, and blocking local sanctuary policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Question 3

Did the law result in harassment and discrimination?

Accepted Answer

Yes, extensive reports documented harassment, profiling, denial of services, and exploitation of immigrants after it passed. The climate of fear even deterred crime victims from contacting the police.

Question 4

How did the law impact Alabama’s economy and agriculture?

Accepted Answer

The law had immediate negative impacts on agriculture, construction, and other industries dependent on immigrant labor. Tens of thousands of immigrants fled the state costing millions in lost economic activity and tax revenues.

Question 5

Were other states influenced by Alabama’s approach?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, and other states passed similar “show me your papers” and other enforcement laws around the same period, but most were also largely invalidated by courts.

Question 6

What happened to the law’s key legislative sponsor, Rep. Micky Hammon?

Accepted Answer

Ironically, despite sponsoring Alabama’s immigration crackdown law, Rep. Hammon was later convicted and jailed for mail fraud in an ethics scandal unrelated to the legislation.

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