The Birmingham News: Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange said this morning that he would support legislators making immediate changes to the state's immigration law to make it "easier to comply with and easier to enforce."
Strange said last week that he thought lawmakers should wait until the U.S. Supreme Court rules in June on Arizona's similar law. Strange said this morning he was referring only to the provisions at issue in the Arizona case -- such as asking suspected illegal immigrants for papers during traffic stops -- although he did not make that distinction last week.
"My recent comments regarding changes to Alabama's immigration legislation were referring to the provisions at issue in the Arizona case that are also a part of the Alabama law. I do not believe that now is the time to make changes to those sections," Strange said.
"But there are numerous provisions in Alabama's law that are not directly at issue in the Arizona case. And there may be many good reasons for making changes to those sections, such as making the law easier to comply with and easier to enforce, without waiting for the Supreme Court to decide the Arizona case. I fully support the Legislature in that regard."
Strange's office issued the statement this morning clarifying his comments.
Legislative leaders and members of the business community were upset with Strange's initial comments, saying they did not want to wait the two months or more to make changes including to E-Verify requirements and when people are required to show proof of citizenship during transactions at county courthouses and city halls.
Strange made his initial comments after returning from watching oral arguments before the Supreme Court in the Arizona case. Strange said he thought questions that the justices asked bode well for Alabama and other states with similar law.
"My recommendation would be to wait until the court rules on the Arizona case before we make any changes to our law. It's only a couple of months before we'll know," Strange said last Thursday.
Strange said last week that he thought lawmakers should wait until the U.S. Supreme Court rules in June on Arizona's similar law. Strange said this morning he was referring only to the provisions at issue in the Arizona case -- such as asking suspected illegal immigrants for papers during traffic stops -- although he did not make that distinction last week.
"My recent comments regarding changes to Alabama's immigration legislation were referring to the provisions at issue in the Arizona case that are also a part of the Alabama law. I do not believe that now is the time to make changes to those sections," Strange said.
"But there are numerous provisions in Alabama's law that are not directly at issue in the Arizona case. And there may be many good reasons for making changes to those sections, such as making the law easier to comply with and easier to enforce, without waiting for the Supreme Court to decide the Arizona case. I fully support the Legislature in that regard."
Strange's office issued the statement this morning clarifying his comments.
Legislative leaders and members of the business community were upset with Strange's initial comments, saying they did not want to wait the two months or more to make changes including to E-Verify requirements and when people are required to show proof of citizenship during transactions at county courthouses and city halls.
Strange made his initial comments after returning from watching oral arguments before the Supreme Court in the Arizona case. Strange said he thought questions that the justices asked bode well for Alabama and other states with similar law.
"My recommendation would be to wait until the court rules on the Arizona case before we make any changes to our law. It's only a couple of months before we'll know," Strange said last Thursday.
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