Brooklyn, NY – Today, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed an anti-illegal-immigration bill into law.  The law includes provisions that require police to ask for documentation from people they stop, penalizes businesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants, and forces public schools to determine the citizenship status of its students.  Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement:

“I am deeply saddened and disappointed that the Governor of Alabama has decided to enact such egregious anti-immigrant provisions in order to address our broken immigration system.  Using our nation’s education system as a conduit to enforce immigration laws is highly inappropriate.  It is my concern, that this will spread fear among students, hindering them from pursuing an education.  Ever since the state of Arizona has enacted its harsh immigration laws, many states have followed suit, enacting provisions that often time over step their jurisdiction.  This is a clear indication that our nation needs to address Comprehensive Immigration Reform at the federal level.  Our national security is at stake; our moral standing in the world depends on it; and the American people, many of whom are first and second generation immigrants, demand it.” 

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