Strengthening Alabama via Education & Cultural Awareness

Issue

The Alabama legislature recently passed House Bill 56, which is being lauded as the toughtest anti-immigration law in the United States. A U.S. Judge upheld portions of the law, including a provision that school officials check students' immigration status. At this time, that portion of the law has been temporarily stayed pending further litigation against the law by the federal government as well as other interest groups.

Impact on Alabama students

House Bill 56 is already having a profound impact on students. As a result of the law, many students have withdrawn from school. Parents are making provisions for their children in case they are deported and the family is broken apart. All of these factors are a distraction to the education and general well-being of children whether they are legal residents, undocumented, or citizen children of undocumented parents. There are anecdotal reports of this law causing stress among non-immigrant students who are afraid for their friends.

Our Position

Since 2007, the mission of Strengthening Alabama via Education and Cultural Awareness (SAVECA) has been to assist the Hispanic community in North Alabama. Our focus has been primarily on education, especially with K-12 students. In light of the problems arising as a direct consequence of HB 56, and which primarily impacts K-12 students and the Hispanic population, SAVECA stands in opposition to the recent legislation. Furthermore, SAVECA asserts as follows:

• all children living in Alabama have the right to attend school regardless of their immigration status, or the immigration status of their parents
• all children also have the right to a learning environment that is safe, stable, and free of hostility
• no child should be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, heritage/culture, language, gender, or disability
• it takes a community to raise a child

SAVECA asserts that immigration reform is necessary, but that HB 56 is not the means of achieving reform. HB 56 has proven to be an attack on the humanity of the less privileged. It is vital to our communities and the State of Alabama that the education of our children is unencumbered by politics and the dispensation of blind justice. SAVECA urges all Alabama legislators to engage in public policy which is fair and which has a positive impact on students in Alabama.