Alabama judge casts doubt on harsh new illegal immigration law

[chloe]

In June, Alabama Gov Robert Bentley (R) signed into law what is by some measures the harshest anti-immigration bill in the nation. For example, birth certificates or other papers showing legal resident status will now be required at government agencies and from parents seeking to enroll their children in public schools. Law enforcement can detain people suspected of entering the country illegally if they do not produce proof of residency and employers or individuals face penalties if they knowingly transport, harbor, or hire illegal immigrants. Judge Blackburn said in court Wednesday that she believed “there are a lot of problems” with the statute, but that she would only hear arguments that framed the debate by its legality, opposed to its supposed moral or political merits.
Judge Sharon Blackburn acknowledged that the language in the bill as written is unclear on details regarding the process of demanding documentation at police stops and whether state schools have the right to demand the birth certificates of parents. She suggested Alabama lawmakers should have taken longer to define exactly how some procedures would happen under the law.
Blackburn did not say when she would make a final ruling.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice...mmigration-law

[ConHog]

Yes, heaven forbid we make any attempt to make sure our tax dollars are only being used to educate citizens.

[J.T]

Law enforcement can detain people suspected of entering the country illegally

How is this new? Police weren't able to detain persons suspected of being in the act of committing an illegal act before? I mean, isn't that pretty much the entire point of having police in the first place?

Judge Sharon Blackburn acknowledged that the language in the bill as written is unclear on details regarding the process of demanding documentation at police stops

Doesn't federal law require they have their green card/id with them already? What's the problem?

The only possible snag I see is the bc of the parents; the rest should already be law.

[KartRacerBoy]

A judge doing her job. Yay.

And ConHog, lets create as many juvenile delinquents as possible by not letting kids that have done nothing wrong not go to school. More gang members. Yeah!!!

[ConHog]

How is this new? Police weren't able to detain persons suspected of being in the act of committing an illegal act before? I mean, isn't that pretty much the entire point of having police in the first place?


Doesn't federal law require they have their green card/id with them already? What's the problem?

The only possible snag I see is the bc of the parents; the rest should already be law.

Yes of course federal law already requires that. But the idiots are trying to get around that by claiming that police are profiling when they decide who they are asking for ID. First of all, DUH profiling works, second of all, police should be asking EVERYONE for ID when they detain them.

[KartRacerBoy]

Yes of course federal law already requires that. But the idiots are trying to get around that by claiming that police are profiling when they decide who they are asking for ID. First of all, DUH profiling works, second of all, police should be asking EVERYONE for ID when they detain them.

Asking for ID isn't the same as asking for proof of citizenship or immigration status. And many of my public defender clients of whatever race had no picture ID if they didn't have a license so they couldn't produce picture ID.

Profiling is unconstitutional. Discrimination based on race.

[Trigg]

A judge doing her job. Yay.

And ConHog, lets create as many juvenile delinquents as possible by not letting kids that have done nothing wrong not go to school. More gang members. Yeah!!!

If they're in the country illegally, the police should escort them home to their illegal parents and deport the whole lot of them.

Takes care of the "more gang members" problem.

I do have some simpathy for kids who were brought here unlawfully, it wasn't their choice. But, they are still here illegally and should be deported.

[ConHog]

Asking for ID isn't the same as asking for proof of citizenship or immigration status. And many of my public defender clients of whatever race had no picture ID if they didn't have a license so they couldn't produce picture ID.

Profiling is unconstitutional. Discrimination based on race.

First of all EVERYONE should have ID, it costs $5 to get a non driver's state ID. Second of all, profiling is NOT unconstitutional. The FBI, for one, does it all the time. It works as a police investigative tool, else law enforcement wouldn't have been using it for thousands of years.

I can't wait til the Read ID Act takes effect, unless they push it off again, and then it will be simple, your state ID will be proof that you're a citizen.

[fj1200]

Asking for ID isn't the same as asking for proof of citizenship or immigration status. And many of my public defender clients of whatever race had no picture ID if they didn't have a license so they couldn't produce picture ID.

Profiling is unconstitutional. Discrimination based on race.

How is it profiling if, when asked to produce ID to determine status, they are unable to? I think most of the laws are written to specifically avoid profiling.

[ConHog]

How is it profiling if, when asked to produce ID to determine status, they are unable to? I think most of the laws are written to specifically avoid profiling.

What he meant to say was that he thinks that asking illegal immigrants for something that will prove they are illegal should be illegal.

Here's an analogy. When you go to a club , if you look to be under 21 they ask for your ID before letting you in. Is that profiling

[Trigg]

what he meant to say was that he thinks that asking illegal immigrants for something that will prove they are illegal should be illegal.

Here's an analogy. When you go to a club , if you look to be under 21 they ask for your id before letting you in. is that profiling

yep

[ConHog]

yep

Thank you, now next question.

Is it illegal and or unconstitutional?

[Gaffer]

Profiling is purely common sense. There's nothing Constitutional or unconstitutional about it. Someone with an accent should have his status checked more closely than someone with no accent. Don't speak English or very little English, you probably weren't born here. A car full of Mexican looking dudes cruising a white or black neighborhood needs to be stopped and the occupants checked out. If nothing else they know they have been noted. If whites or blacks are cruising a Mexican neighborhood they will be stopped. It's profiling and used for prevention of crimes. Those with accents need to be checked further for their citizenship status. Swedish, French, British, Nigerian, Spanish, got a heavy accent, lets see some additional identification. Let's all say it together...COMMON SENSE.

The govt is currently using a policy of not letting local law enforcement do their job and coming down on the states that do. States are having to enforce federal law that the feds are ignoring. The feds are ignoring illegals because of votes and economics. Cheap labor is wanted by many industries and votes are important. Anyone that thinks illegals aren't involved in the voting process is a fool. Hairy reid didn't get elected by the people of Nevada. And the current administration intend to put the illegals to good use.

[ConHog]

Profiling is purely common sense. There's nothing Constitutional or unconstitutional about it. Someone with an accent should have his status checked more closely than someone with no accent. Don't speak English or very little English, you probably weren't born here. A car full of Mexican looking dudes cruising a white or black neighborhood needs to be stopped and the occupants checked out. If nothing else they know they have been noted. If whites or blacks are cruising a Mexican neighborhood they will be stopped. It's profiling and used for prevention of crimes. Those with accents need to be checked further for their citizenship status. Swedish, French, British, Nigerian, Spanish, got a heavy accent, lets see some additional identification. Let's all say it together...COMMON SENSE.

The govt is currently using a policy of not letting local law enforcement do their job and coming down on the states that do. States are having to enforce federal law that the feds are ignoring. The feds are ignoring illegals because of votes and economics. Cheap labor is wanted by many industries and votes are important. Anyone that thinks illegals aren't involved in the voting process is a fool. Hairy reid didn't get elected by the people of Nevada. And the current administration intend to put the illegals to good use.

Why did KRB run when I correctly pointed out that profiling has been used by law enforcement for thousands of years? Hell, the FBI has an entire department that does nothing BUT create profiles . Go to a big city where there is a serial killer on the loose and see who they are looking for. Oh that's right a mid 20s single white guy, because that's the most likely profile to have committed the crime. Now how is that different from profiling and saying okay the Hispanic who barely speaks English and doesn't have any ID on him is the most likely person to be an illegal immigrant, not the blue haired old lady.

Geez, I wish they would let the TSA profile to.

[KartRacerBoy]

How is it profiling if, when asked to produce ID to determine status, they are unable to? I think most of the laws are written to specifically avoid profiling.

Put a little thought into it, please. Who do you think the cops are going to ask this question to? The white 50ish guy?