Fewer students in Alabama

Alabama’s anti-immigrant law, know as HB 56, has been suspended by the courts while its constitutionality is determined, but its intimidating effects on the immigrant community are clear, even though it has yet to take full effect.

One clause of the famous law-copied with a few additions from Arizona’s SB 1070-mandated school districts to collect data on undocumented students. While this part of the measure was also suspended, the impact has been felt in the significant increase in school absenteeism among Alabama’s immigrant youth.

It is obvious that this was precisely the objective and intent of the law, hatched in the hallways of the offices of Kris Kobach, the Secretary of State of Kansas and mastermind and legal advisor on the laws of Arizona, Alabama, and many others.

Legally, schools cannot exclude immigrant children according to the Supreme Court ruling on the Plyler v. Doe case in 1982, but asking them about their immigration status generates fear and intimidates not only the children, but their parents. The objective of Arizona’s law is to scare people into “self-deportation.” And while the courts say this provision has not taken effect, the damage is already done.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that the matter ends there. This week, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Tom Perez sent a letter to Alabama’s education authorities indicating that they were in possible violation of federal law for reducing access to education for young people, who are entitled to it under law.

This is the first step in a possible lawsuit against Alabama by Perez and his department. Regardless of what the higher courts decide on the Alabama law, there are effects that go beyond its implementation, such as not educating and training thousands of children who will be the workers of the future. One more reason to consider this law and those like it short-sighted and harmful.

Impremedia/La Opinión