By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has signed two new immigration-related bills into law, advancing her administration’s stance on public safety and election integrity. The legislation comes amid a broader push by state lawmakers to tighten immigration enforcement and expand legal restrictions on undocumented individuals.
One of the new laws, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell (R-St. Clair County), requires law enforcement agencies to collect fingerprints and DNA samples from undocumented immigrants who are arrested. It expands existing requirements—previously limited to convicted felons—to include noncitizens detained on any criminal charge.
“Whenever a law enforcement agency in this state has an illegal alien in its custody, the agency may not release the illegal alien until the agency has collected a full set of fingerprints and a known DNA reference sample from the individual, if a sample has not previously been collected,” the bill states.
The fingerprints will be submitted to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and DNA samples will be stored in a state database maintained by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. The bill passed both chambers with wide Republican support, though many Democratic legislators either opposed the measure or abstained from voting.
Gov. Ivey also signed a second bill, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Montgomery), prohibiting the use of foreign-issued driver licenses as valid voter identification. While it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in Alabama, this law closes a loophole by barring the use of such documents at polling places.
“Alabama is taking steps to protect our communities from impacts on public safety and the integrity of our elections,” Ivey said in a statement. “These bills will do just that by closing a loophole in state law concerning voter ID while also further enhancing law enforcement’s ability to effectively identify illegal immigrants with criminal records.”
These new laws are part of a larger legislative agenda focused on immigration. Lawmakers have introduced several related measures this session, some of which remain pending as the Legislature approaches its final day on Wednesday.
Among the most controversial is Senate Bill 53, which would create a state crime of human smuggling for knowingly transporting an undocumented immigrant into Alabama. The bill also authorizes law enforcement to check immigration status during traffic stops or arrests if there is “reasonable suspicion” that the individual is in the country unlawfully. Critics warn the bill could lead to racial profiling and erode trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.
Other pending immigration-related proposals include:
- SB 55, which would nullify out-of-state driver’s licenses issued without proof of lawful presence.
- SB 62, restricting the use of state-issued licenses, such as hunting or fishing permits, as valid ID.
- SB 66, enhancing penalties for submitting forged documents to government agencies.
- HB 302 regulates employment practices involving asylum seekers and individuals with temporary immigration status.
Supporters argue these bills are necessary for upholding the rule of law and protecting public resources. Opponents say they risk marginalizing vulnerable communities and deterring lawful participation in civic life.
With the session’s end in sight, debate continues over how far Alabama should go in reshaping its immigration laws—and what impact those changes will have on families, employers, and public institutions across the state.