Bill > SB53

This bill makes several significant changes to Alabama's immigration enforcement laws, focusing on defining and addressing illegal immigration. The bill establishes a new crime of human smuggling, which makes it illegal to knowingly transport an illegal alien into the state, with exceptions for professionals like attorneys, educators, healthcare providers, and those transporting individuals for religious, charitable, or governmental purposes. It also modifies existing statutes to clarify procedures for law enforcement when encountering individuals suspected of being illegal aliens. The bill requires law enforcement officers to make reasonable attempts to determine an individual's citizenship status during lawful stops, and mandates that jail administrators verify the immigration status of individuals confined for certain types of crimes. When an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer is issued, facilities must hold the individual for up to 48 hours or until ICE takes custody. The bill introduces a new definition of "illegal alien" as an individual not lawfully present in the United States and provides detailed guidelines about how immigration status should be verified, emphasizing that only federal authorities can make a final determination. The legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and repeals a previous section related to concealing or harboring illegal aliens.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search