USHLI strongly applauds the decision by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Blackburn to temporarily block the enforcement of Alabama's recently passed anti-immigrant law, which was scheduled to take effect on Thursday, September 1.  

The law, HB 56, which is considered by both proponents and opponents to be the toughest in the nation, makes it a crime to knowingly assist undocumented persons by providing them transportation, employment, or a place to live.  The law also requires public schools to determine the citizenship or immigration status of kindergartners and grade school children, and, where possible, the status of their parents as well.  The law authorizes school officials to then report children or parents whom they presume to be in the country unlawfully to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

USHLI is an amici to a civil rights umbrella amicus brief filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which joined with other plaintiffs in seeking the temporary injunction granted by the Court saying in pertinent part "USHLI believes that state laws that may be found to be unconstitutional or that blatantly attempt to usurp or supplant the authority of the federal government invariably result in wholesale discrimination against the Latino community in general and immigrants in particular."

In her decision, Judge Blackburn did not declare any part of the law to be unconstitutional, but simply said she needed more time to consider the various lawsuits alleging  the state went too far.   USHLI joins with the U.S. Department of Justice and several groups and organizations in doing everything possible to secure a permanent injunction and have the entire law declared unconstitutional. Her final decision is expected on September 28.