The American Civil Liberties Union has already announced its intention to bring suit against Alabama’s SB 56. The legislation passed today through the state legislature, which many say is the toughest state immigration law – even tougher than Arizona’s comparable and controversial SB 1070. — Zoe Kevork, Principal Attorney

Quoting from the LA Times article “Alabama enacts anti-illegal-immigration law described as nation’s strictest” (To read the full article click here)

“Alabama set a new national standard for get-tough immigration policy Thursday with Gov. Robert J. Bentley’s signing of a law that surpasses Arizona’s SB 1070, with provisions affecting law enforcement, transportation, apartment rentals, employment and education.”

“The 72-page legislation known as HB 56 also touches on issues as diverse as contract law and voter registration. It makes Alabama the fourth state, after Georgia, Utah and Indiana, to follow Arizona’s lead in enacting significant statewide immigration laws [emphasis added], potentially mollifying those voters frustrated with Washington’s perceived failure to deal with the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S.

“Other states, including California, Florida, Nevada and Texas, have seen SB 1070-style bills fail during this year’s legislative sessions, and portions of the Arizona law — including the provision requiring police to check the immigration status of those they stop and suspect are in the country illegally — have been blocked by a federal judge and may land before the Supreme Court.”