The Alabama Legislature’s Joint Interim Patriotic Immigration Commission released recommendations for stricter legal codes against illegal immigrant activity throughout the state.
Data on immigrants’ lives and economic impact on the state was collected by the committee, and four public hearings were held to determine constituents’ feelings on the matter.
The committee concluded its task in submitting 25 proposals to the Legislature. They suggested firmer enforcement of English as the state’s only official language and existing immigration policies.
Such policy suggestions come at a pivotal time. As U.S. presidential candidates are blazing campaign trails and wooing voters, one of their most discussed issues is immigration policy reform.
“The findings of the Joint Interim Commission seem to be an effort to jump on the bandwagon on this issue when it’s such a trendy thing to do,” said Dave Dryden, professor in political science.
Presidential hopefuls have been faced with a number of challenging questions. Can America simply turn immigrants away? To what extent can anyone be forced to speak English? Are incoming migrant workers filling jobs Americans don’t want, or saturating the job market with outsiders willing to work at substandard salaries? What do the nation’s borders need to be secured from?
Some feel bound to keep the nation’s borders open, acknowledging their own forefathers came to America under such policies. Others worry that today’s immigrants bring instability to the job market.
Auburn students have mixed feelings on the matter — particularly on the commission’s findings that some Alabama elementary teachers go back and forth teaching for 30 minutes in English, then 30 minutes in Spanish.
“I wonder if it’s a disadvantage to the students whose families are here legally,” said Laura Ketcham, a sophomore in math education. “I wouldn’t want to have 30 minutes of class time that they couldn’t understand,”
Business junior Lindsey English disagrees with such classroom methods, but wishes lawmakers would have humane hearts toward illegal immigrants.
“They have low-paying, high-labor jobs,” English said. “Their work ethic is incredible. We don’t need to overlook that.”
English pointed out America’s position as one of few nations that does not educate children to be bi- or trilingual. As for children who don’t speak the official language, “We do have a need for more English as a Second Language classes in our schools. Maybe even hold (young students) back a year to learn English.”
Many issues surrounding immigrant law can only be determined at the federal level. Some of the commission’s suggestions were not for the state Legislature, but aimed toward Congress with Alabamians’ interests at heart, including a clearly defined guest worker program that would allow aliens into America to work for definite periods of time with set restrictions and registrations.
Attention was given to Alabama classrooms where multiple languages are being spoken. The committee reported Alabamian students’ best interests are served when only English is used in instruction.
The committee was comprised of 21 lawyers, legislators and leaders in affected industries. They reported a need for vigorous prosecution of illegal immigrants and cracking down on Alabama’s “sanctuary cities,” which are known for welcoming immigrants who came without proper paperwork.
Policies which can be determined at the state level will likely be introduced in the upcoming weeks of legislative session.
English hopes the lawmakers’ decisions will be tempered.
“Just because we were blessed to be born in America doesn’t mean we’re better than anyone else,” English said.
