JURIST

The state of Alabama agreed [text, PDF] Tuesday to permanently block several provisions of its immigration [JURIST backgrounder] law [HB 56; PDF], according to the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA) [advocacy website]. The key provisions that were permanently blocked include Sections 28; 11(f) and (g); 10, 11(a), 13, and 27; 12, 18, and 20; and 19. One of the provisions requiring public schools to check the immigration status of students had been struck down [JURIST report] by the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit [official website] in August of last year. Along with the agreement, Alabama agreed to pay $350,000 in legal fees and costs to the plaintiffs' attorneys.

In April the US Supreme Court [official website] denied [JURIST report] certiorari in an appeal over the immigration law. Before the denial in September 2012, the state petitioned [JURIST report] the Eleventh Circuit to reconsider a ruling partially striking down the immigration law. In August a three-judge upheld several provisions, including one allowing police officers to check the immigration status of persons suspected of a crime, but rejected provisions making it a crime for undocumented immigrants to work or solicit work, imposing criminal penalties on persons who rent property to illegal immigrants and requiring state officials to check the immigration status of children in public schools.