WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is challenging Alabama's new immigration law that allows police to detain people they suspect of being illegal immigrants after a traffic stop. Meanwhile, state officials say the law will not keep illegal immigrants from enrolling in the state's public schools.
The Justice Department says the Alabama law conflicts with federal law and undermines federal immigration priorities.
In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Alabama, the government says the state law expands the opportunities for Alabama police to push immigrants toward incarceration for various new immigration crimes.
The Justice Department says a state cannot set its own immigration policy and cannot pass laws that conflict with federal immigration laws.
The department quoted Birmingham police chief A.C. Roper as saying the law would divert scarce resources from local priorities to immigration enforcement.
Last year, the department obtained a preliminary injunction against an Arizona immigration law.
LAW WON'T KEEP KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL
Officials say the law won't prevent any child including illegal immigrants from enrolling in Alabama's public schools.
Tommy Bice of the Alabama Department of Education said Monday that state officials are sending information to local schools about how to deal with enrolling students. It requires only that public schools determine students' immigration status for record-keeping.
State officials had said previously that the measure, which became law in June, was not intended to keep illegal immigrants from enrolling.
Children who enroll after Sept. 1 and don't have a birth certificate can still attend school. Parents will be able to obtain other documents to prove their children's immigration status.
Tuesday
July 1st, 2025
5:01AM
