SB53 enhances immigration enforcement by requiring jail officials to verify the immigration status of detainees when reasonable suspicion exists. It creates two new state crimes: human smuggling and harboring undocumented immigrants. Human smuggling—knowingly transporting someone unlawfully present in the United States—is classified as a Class C felony.
The Alabama State Senate passed SB53 on February 13, 2025 by a vote of 24 to 8. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill strengthens state-level enforcement of immigration law and upholds the rule of law. By empowering local and state authorities to prosecute crimes such as human smuggling and harboring illegal aliens—without relying solely on federal agencies—SB53 reinforces Alabama’s sovereignty and deters criminal activity tied to illegal migration. This approach helps protect Alabama communities from the public safety, economic, and societal costs associated with unchecked illegal migration.
