US state signs harsh immigration law

Critics say new Alabama legislation may translate into racial profiling.

screengrab - immigration

The governor of the US state of Alabama has signed into law one of the country’s toughest measures meant to crack down on immigration.

If the law is not blocked, it will take effect on September 1, giving police the power to arrest anyone suspected of being undocumented if they are stopped for any reason.

Under the bill, Alabama police can stop and question anyone about their immigration status based on “reasonable suspicion”, which opposition activists have said will translate into racial profiling in a real-world context.

Undocumented immigrants will be blocked from enrolling in public colleges after high school and the state’s public schools will be required to check the immigration status of all students.

It would also be a crime to rent housing to people without legal papers.

Al Jazeera’s Imran Garda reports from Washington.

Source: Al Jazeera