Ten members of Congress plan immigration hearing in Birmingham Nov. 21
Ten members of Congress plan immigration hearing in Birmingham Nov. 21
WASHINGTON — Ten Democratic congressmen from around the country will be in Birmingham Nov. 21 to campaign against Alabama’s immigration law.
The group has scheduled a two-hour public hearing in the Birmingham City Council Chambers to hear from witnesses about the law’s impact on families, businesses, agriculture, law enforcement and civil society.
The ten members, including U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, will then join a rally at the 16th Street Baptist Church, part of a campaign to have the law repealed.
The congressional interest was sparked by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., a leading Washington critic of the law, part of which requires local police and sheriffs to detain those who cannot prove they are in the country legally. Gutierrez has said the law violates civil rights and is a threat to Alabama’s economy.
In addition to Gutierrez and Sewell, other members scheduled to make the trip are Reps. Joe Baca of California, Judy Chu of California, Yvette Clarke of New York, Charlie Gonzalez of Texas, Al Green of Texas, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Zoe Lofgren of California, Grace Napolitano of California and Silvestre Reyes of Texas.
On Nov. 21, the public hearing will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the rally starts at 7 p.m.
