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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
jrendeiro@nclr.org
(202) 776-1566
Groups join telephonic press conference to highlight concerns over HB 56
Washington, D.C.—On Friday, August 5, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) joined an amicus brief supporting the lawsuit filed by a coalition of civil rights groups—Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Alabama, the National Immigration Law Center, the Asian Law Caucus, and the Asian American Justice Center, among others—challenging Alabama’s extreme anti-immigrant law, HB 56, which was signed by Gov. Robert Bentley (R–AL) in June. The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!), an NCLR Affiliate, is the lead plaintiff for this lawsuit.
Today, NCLR is holding a telephonic press briefing with representatives from the National Education Association, the NAACP Alabama State Conference, Legal Momentum, and the Montgomery Improvement Association, which have also filed amicus briefs, to explain their decisions to support the legal challenge to Alabama’s law. To participate in that call, please visit the NCLR website.
“This law will adversely impact the way community-based organizations provide vital services to the people of Alabama, including Hispanic citizens and lawful residents,” said Elena Lacayo, Immigration Field Coordinator for the Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation at NCLR. “The diversity of organizations that have signed briefs supporting the legal challenge show the broad opposition to HB 56. This law is an affront to who we are as a nation and who we are as human beings, and our country must choose to stand up for American ideals and reject those that appeal to our worst instincts.”
The telephonic press briefing also coincides with the release of “National Copycat Landscape,” a map created by NCLR, which portrays the status of anti-immigration legislation throughout the United States. The map indicates states that have passed Arizona SB 1070 copycats, states that have rejected such bills, and states that are still considering anti-immigrant legislation. It also notes where courts have blocked legislation.
NCLR plans to make the map fully interactive on its website in the coming weeks. For a state-by-state breakdown explaining up-to-date anti-immigrant legislation developments, please visit NCLR’s summary webpage.
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