Gov. Bentley seeks full 11th Circuit Court hearing on immigratio - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Gov. Bentley seeks full 11th Circuit Court hearing on immigration law

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By John Shryock - bio | email
Gov. Bentley wants a full hearing from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Gov. Bentley wants a full hearing from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley on Monday announced the State has filed petitions asking the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider parts of two opinions issued August 20 regarding Alabama's immigration law.   

The governor contends that the three-judge panel's decision to strike down three of the provisions, including those dealing with harboring, contracts, and school data, was contrary to the U.S. Constitution. 

"We are filing this based on principle," Governor Bentley said in a statement to the media. "As the Governor of Alabama, I have a duty to uphold and defend Alabama law. Federal courts should not restrain state governments in a way that is contrary to the U.S. Constitution."

[READ MORE - Appeals Court rules on Alabama immigration law (8/20/12)]

The Southern Poverty Law Center, opposed to Alabama's immigration law, was quick to react to the governor's petition calling the move "disappointing".

Mary Bauer, legal director for the SPLC, said in a statement:

"Today, the State of Alabama continued to attempt to defend its illegal and immoral anti-immigrant law by asking the entire Eleventh Circuit to consider reinstating the provision of H.B. 56 requiring schools to interrogate students about their immigration status.

The Eleventh Circuit Panel's decision on August 20, 2012, that Section 28 violates the equal protection clause by deterring enrollment in schools, was clearly the correct ruling, and we are sure that the decision will stand.

We are disappointed that the State is continuing to stand behind this unjust and hateful law, which has brought so much shame and ridicule upon the state."

Governor Bentley went on to say that, "We must protect the State of Alabama from the federal government interfering with our ability to enforce our laws...We owe it to the people of this state to defend the U.S. Constitution and the right of our legislature to make constitutional policy choices."

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