1. United States
2. Ala.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose HB 13, the legislation sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough that would expand local law enforcement agreements with federal immigration agencies. The House Judiciary Committee approved this bill on January 29, 2026, despite serious concerns about its necessity, constitutional implications, and impact on public safety in our communities. This bill is redundant and poorly justified. Nine Alabama sheriffs' offices already have agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the existing federal 287(g) program as of May 2025. When asked how HB 13 differs from this existing framework, Rep. Yarbrough did not respond to media questions. This is the third time he has introduced this same legislation in the current quadrennium, suggesting a solution in search of a problem rather than a response to genuine community needs. The bill's language creates dangerous opportunities for racial profiling. It allows law enforcement officers to arrest individuals with probable cause if they are "suspected of being an illegal alien." As Rep. Chris England noted during committee debate, this opens the door for people to be stopped based on their skin color or inability to speak English. This fear is not theoretical. England referenced the deployment of ICE agents to Minneapolis, where two people have been killed during ongoing protests, illustrating the real human cost of aggressive immigration enforcement. When immigrant communities fear law enforcement, public safety suffers for everyone. People become reluctant to report crimes, cooperate with investigations, or seek help in emergencies. This undermines the fundamental relationship between police and the communities they serve. HB 13 requires state and local law enforcement to maintain databases of immigration status, transfer custody to federal authorities, and determine the legal status of detainees. These mandates divert resources from addressing local crime and protecting Alabama residents. I urge you to vote against HB 13 and keep Alabama law enforcement focused on local public safety rather than federal immigration enforcement.