For Immediate Release:
May 22, 2025
Press contact:
media@nipnlg.org
MONTGOMERY, AL – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has now signed into law two anti-immigrant measures that will hurt Alabamians across the state and invite racial profiling. Senate Bill 53 (SB 53) will go into effect on October 1, 2025, again making the State of Alabama a “show me your papers” state. Senate Bill 63 (SB 63), a mandatory DNA and fingerprint collection law for undocumented noncitizens in custody, will go into effect June 1, 2025.
On May 12, 2025, Governor Ivey signed into law SB 63, a disturbing new law that requires DNA and fingerprints be collected whenever someone determined to be an “illegal” noncitizen is in custody—meaning this law will require this invasion of privacy when someone has merely been arrested, not even charged or convicted of a crime.
Yesterday, Governor Ivey signed SB 53, which is in effect a “show me your papers” law. The law requires local law enforcement officers to call federal immigration officials if they have a “reasonable suspicion” that the person is present in the U.S. unlawfully, unless that person can show certain documentation. SB 53 also requires immigration status checks for anyone in any state, county, or municipal jail in Alabama who has been charged with certain crimes. Finally, SB 53 also creates a new state crime of “human smuggling,” which criminalizes the transporting into the state of Alabama anyone who is known to be an undocumented immigrant. The law provides limited exemptions for official educational trips, health care providers, attorneys transporting their clients to or from government facilities, travel for “religious or charitable purposes,” or for governmental purposes. However, these exemptions do not protect community members, family and friends driving with their loved ones, so they will be at risk of being targeted under this law.
“This law unfairly targets immigrant communities, increases the risk of racial profiling, is excessively punitive and needlessly cruel. At a time when our fundamental rights are under threat, we must strengthen our communities and stand by each other,” said Allison Hamilton, Executive Director for the ACIJ (the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice). “Thousands of Alabamians contacted their legislators and spoke about the dangers of this bill at public hearings. Despite the clear opposition, legislators chose to enact a law that criminalizes community and puts all of us at risk for choosing compassion over fear.”
“These laws authorize racial profiling of not only undocumented people, but citizens and immigrants who might look “foreign” or speak with an accent.” said A’Niya Robinson, Policy and Organizing Director at the ACLU of Alabama. “What’s especially egregious in SB 53 is the criminalization of everyday interactions – under the law, Alabamians can be criminalized for everyday interactions with people who are here without documents, such as driving them to the grocery store or church. We should not be criminalizing anyone who lends a hand to their fellow Alabamian.”
“Alabama Arise and our members joined with a coalition of immigrant and community advocates 14 years ago to stand together against HB 56, one of the nation’s most restrictive anti-immigrant laws, which was largely overturned by federal courts. The law devastated our state’s immigrant families, both documented and undocumented, as well as communities, employers and entire industries,” said Robyn Hyden, Executive Director of Alabama Arise. “With the signing of SB 53, Alabama has returned to this shameful era. As one of our members, Rev. Shane Isner from First Christian Church in Montgomery, said to the House committee considering this bill: ‘Compassion is not a crime. Compassion, in the scripture of my religion, is a command; it is a duty.’ SB 53 would criminalize compassion and service to our neighbors and would prevent vulnerable people from seeking help and support when they require aid. We stand with our neighbors today to say that this law does not represent our values.”
“We are deeply worried about the harmful effects for the immigrant residents in Alabama due these two anti immigrant bills SB53 and SB63” said Jean Hernandez, Coordinator for Centro de Acceso para Latinos de Alabama (CALA). “We need to understand the consequences will affect us all, especially access to care, health outcomes, housing access and mental health. Focusing on immigrants overlooks the invaluable contributions of our community to the state’s culture and economy affecting millions in tax revenue.”
“We are deeply disappointed by the passage of these laws, which continue a long and painful tradition of scapegoating immigrants in Alabama,” said Carlos Alemán, CEO of the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama (¡HICA!). “Rather than uniting us around shared values and mutual respect, these policies further divide our communities and fuel fear. At ¡HICA!, we remain committed to building a state where everyone—regardless of immigration status—can contribute to our collective well-being. While we stand in firm opposition to these laws, we will not waver in our vision of an Alabama that welcomes immigrants and recognizes their vital role in our state’s future.”
“With these laws, Alabama turns its back on its vibrant immigrant community,” said Stephanie Alvarez-Jones, Southeast Regional Attorney at the National Immigration Project. “These laws will invite more racial profiling, more unlawful arrests, and more unnecessarily prolonged detention. Make no mistake, these laws will not just harm individuals who do not have a lawful immigration status. They will hurt everyone who loves, works with, or is in community with someone undocumented.”
“Just as we saw with HB56 in 2011, these laws will not only bring shame on Alabama, but will have massive collateral damage to Alabama's economic and civic life,” says Mónica Hernández, Co-Director of the Southeast Immigrant Rights Network. “Make no mistake, undocumented people and the folks they are in community with do not deserve this sort of treatment -- full stop. But also, undocumented people are just the start. These laws move us further towards a reality where basic human rights are conditional and where due process is a fiction -- and that reality threatens all of us. These laws represent the worst of Alabama."
Julia Sosa from the Tuscaloosa Latino Coalition said, “In 2011 we saw the harm that anti-immigrant laws, HB 56, can bring. We have seen what happens when fear is spread instead of welcome, when families are separated instead of supported. These laws will not only spread fear among the immigrant population but among the citizens of Alabama that interact and assist this community in the areas of health, education and economic development.”
“The Alabama Legislature chose to ignore the voices of its people,” said Ana Delia Espino, Director of Inclusive Economies–South at United for a Fair Economy. “Despite the presence and testimony of so many community members who voiced their opposition, the legislature pushed forward laws that undermine basic rights, invite racial profiling, and destabilize families and local economies. At United for a Fair Economy, we believe that true economic and social equity cannot exist in a state where entire communities are criminalized simply for seeking safety and opportunity. We will continue to work in solidarity with immigrant families across Alabama and call on leaders at every level to reject hate and instead invest in policies that unite and uplift. Laws like SB53 and SB63 do the opposite. We remain committed to supporting those in Alabama and across the country who are organizing for justice and fighting to ensure every person can live with dignity and security.”
“We reject the anti-immigrant bills SB53 and SB63. These bills are a clear sign that our state government is not willing to work toward a fair and inclusive solution,” said Natividad González, Executive Director of Voices Immigrants Alabama (VIA). “Instead of building bridges, they are sending a clear message of hate and discrimination toward communities of color and immigrant families who, for decades, have contributed to Alabama’s development through their economy, culture, diversity, and tireless efforts to integrate into a society that constantly shuts its doors on them.
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About ACIJ
ACIJ, the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice, works for the rights and dignity of all people by cultivating just policies, encouraging grassroots leadership and participation, building alliances, and amplifying the voices and contributions of immigrants in Alabama.
About the ACLU Of Alabama
The ACLU of Alabama works to preserve and protect the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, specifically those principles in the Bill of Rights. Learn more at aclualabama.org.
About Alabama Arise
Alabama Arise is a statewide, member-led organization advancing public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians who are marginalized by poverty. Arise’s membership includes faith-based, community, nonprofit and civic groups, grassroots leaders and individuals across Alabama.
About the Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership (ALIRP)
The Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership (ALIRP) is a diverse coalition of community members, interfaith religious leaders and laypersons, as well as representatives of other community groups, who came together to support refugees and asylum seekers through direct assistance, education, and advocacy. Seeking safety is a human right. We envision a world where all refugees and asylum seekers find safety and live with dignity.
About the Centro de Acceso para Latinos de Alabama (CALA)
Centro de Acceso para Latinos de Alabama commits to promoting health care access, language justice, and social equity for Latinos living with HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+ , and immigrant communities living in Alabama.
About the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama (¡HICA!)
¡HICA! is a community development and advocacy organization that champions economic equality, civic engagement, and social justice for Latino and immigrant families in Alabama. Learn more at hicaalabama.org.
About the National Immigration Project
The National Immigration Project is a membership organization of attorneys, advocates, and community members who believe that all people should be treated with dignity, live freely, and flourish. We litigate, advocate, educate, and build bridges across movements to ensure that those most impacted by the immigration and criminal systems are uplifted and supported. Learn more at nipnlg.org. Follow the National Immigration Project on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram at @NIPNLG.
About the Southeast Immigrant Rights Network
The Southeast Immigrant Rights Network (SEIRN) is a network of 52 grassroots immigrant- and refugee-led groups from across the Southeast, dedicated to building and uplifting the leadership of directly impacted people, and convening and resourcing the Southern immigrant rights movement, in order to build a South that respects and uplifts the rights and dignity of ALL. More at seirn.org, on Facebook (@SoutheastImmigrantRightsNetwork) and Instagram (@seirn_org).
About the Tuscaloosa Hispanic Coalition
The Tuscaloosa Latino Coalition’s mission is to design and implement programs and partnerships to increase visibility and engagement withTuscaloosa’s Hispanic and Latino communities. Learn more at TuscaloosaLatinoCoalition.org.
About United for a Fair Economy
United for a Fair Economy is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that supports social movements working for a resilient, sustainable and equitable economy.
About Voices Immigrants Alabama (VIA)
VIA (Voices Immigrants Alabama) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering, advocating for, and uplifting immigrant communities across Alabama. We provide resources, education, and support to ensure immigrant voices are heard, rights are protected, and opportunities are accessible. Through community outreach, policy advocacy, and cultural engagement, VIA stands as a bridge between immigrant families and the systems that impact their lives. More at Facebook: Voces Inmigrantes Alabama and Instagram: @Via. Alabama.