The Alabama immigration law may currently have the support of 80% of Alabamans, but it isn’t going to stay that way. It’s one of the stupidest damn laws ever enacted and it’s going to create an opening for Democrats because tons of ordinary white folks are going to be inconvenienced. The law says that people have to provide proof of citizenship every time they have some transaction with the state.
“One afternoon, we sat down and we had the county directory and we went through and made a list of every county department that interfaces directly with citizens,” said Julian Butler, the attorney for Madison County, which includes the City of Huntsville.
Some already required some form of identification, Mr. Butler said, but many did not. He and his colleagues are still discussing whether people can rent a pavilion at a county park, enroll children in a Little League team or sign up for a membership at the county swimming pool without first proving that they are citizens or legal residents. Paying property taxes might require a trip to the courthouse with documentation. Architects, nurses, hair stylists, plumbers, real estate agents and a host of other professions will have to demonstrate their legal status every time their licenses are renewed.
“There are a lot of frustrated citizens that are being inconvenienced by the implementation of the law and who didn’t think it was going to impact them,” said State Senator Paul Sanford, the only Republican senator to vote against the law and the author of two bills that would amend it.
Many of the utility companies are barred from turning on the water or electricity unless the homeowner/renter can provide proof of citizenship. Can’t find your birth certificate? Go buy some bottled water and flashlight batteries.
A whole lot of yahoos are going to have second thoughts about this law. “Hey, this was supposed to get rid of the beaners, not force me to make three trips to the DMV!”
