¡HICA! Files Lawsuit Challenging House Bill 56 Anti-Immigration Law
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – Today, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama filed, as the named plaintiff, a class action lawsuit to challenge Alabama's HB56 anti-immigration law. The lawsuit was prepared by Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Alabama, the National Immigration Law Center, the Asian Law Caucus, and the Asian American Justice Center. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on behalf of several organizations and individuals across the state who will be adversely affected by the law. The law is set to take effect September 1st.
The lawsuit charges that HB 56 is unconstitutional in that it unlawfully interferes with federal power and authority over immigration matters, in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution; subjects Alabamians--including countless U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents--to unlawful search and seizure, in violation of the Fourth Amendment; unlawfully deters immigrant families from enrolling their children in public schools; unconstitutionally bars many lawfully present immigrants from attending public colleges or universities in Alabama; and drastically restricts the right to enter into contracts.
“If implemented, HB56 will cause irreparable harm to Alabama’s reputation, to the vitality of our economy, and to the well-being of hardworking immigrant families that ¡HICA! works with daily to engage and empower,” said Isabel Rubio, executive director of ¡HICA!. “With no other recourse remaining, ¡HICA! must join this lawsuit to stop HB56.”
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The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!) is a statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that engages and empowers Alabama’s Hispanic community and its numerous cultures as an economic and civic integrator, social-resource connector, and statewide educator. ¡HICA! was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Birmingham. For more information, visit www.hispanicinterest.org or call 205.942.5505.
