The U.S. Department of Justice has rightly taken a strong stand against Alabama's radical immigration law by filing a lawsuit challenging its validity. SEIU has previously joined civil rights organizations in challenging the Alabama law and strongly commends the DOJ's entry into this case.

"In filing this lawsuit, the DOJ is reasserting control over immigration policy, just as it did with Arizona's S.B. 1070 law, based on the fundamental constitutional principle that immigration policy must be decided at the federal level and not by state or local governments. States cannot make up their own immigration laws any more than they can print their own money or enter into treaties with foreign countries. Furthermore, the Alabama law conflicts with federal enforcement of immigration laws.

"While federal courts have preliminarily ruled that the Arizona law is unconstitutional, pending a trial on the merits of the case, the Justice Department's lawsuit against the Alabama law is even more critical, given the more draconian nature of the Alabama law.

"In Alabama, immigration opponents targeted every aspect of immigrants' daily lives, seeking to make their mere existence so difficult that they would flee the state.

"The law restricts employment, housing, transportation, contractual agreements and even education for the children of undocumented immigrants. Under the Alabama law, children must prove their lawful presence, thus discouraging parents from enrolling their children in school. The education of all children is a basic principle of our nation and Alabama should not be an exception.

"The impact will be felt by all Alabamans -- U.S. citizens and immigrants -- regardless of status, as they will be judged 'guilty' until they can prove their innocence. Law enforcement based on appearances alone has been strongly opposed by top law enforcement officers across the country.

"Such shameful laws undermine our core values as a just nation as well as our economic system that relies on hardworking immigrants.

"Until the lawsuits are settled, SEIU eagerly awaits Congress' return to its traditional role as the legislative branch of government and begins working on comprehensive immigration reforms that protect our economic and national security, and that unite rather than divide our country."

With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

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