It’s gone beyond water, although I read this morning in either the Huffpo or NPR that the water issue is for NEW customers only, but I have my doubts. This is Alabama, a state steeped in some of the worst racism in the country.

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There’s a panic among the Hispanic community in Alabama and many are fleeing. The state is trying to put out that fire, but really, what did the expect?

latimes.com

The state education department has sent Spanish-language audio files to radio stations promising listeners that the immigration details they collect will not be passed on to federal officials, but to the Legislature to tabulate how many illegal immigrants were in schools.

It seemed to be working, education spokeswoman Malissa Valdes said: On the Monday after the ruling, 2,285 Latino students, about 6% of the statewide total, stayed home from school. Two days later, the number was back down to 4%, the typical rate of absence.

I want to know what is the state going to do with the info on how many “illegal immigrants” (I really hate that term) are in the schools.

Monica Hernandez, an organizer with the Southeast Immigrant Rights Network, advised the parents not to open the door for anyone unless the person had a warrant — and to give only their name and address to police until they could obtain the services of a lawyer.

The parents asked about rumors: Could the police nab you just for walking your kids to school?

No, Hernandez told them, the police must be conducting an investigation and must have a “reasonable suspicion” that a person is here illegally.

Is it true they are targeting male drivers, not female? No, she said. And no to many others.

No? Really? Pastor Manuel Hernndez was stopped, brought to jail and never told of his charges. The first thing he was asked for was his legal documentation.

The detective questioned the validity of all his documents, the pastor said. The officer also told Hernandez that he was committing a crime for having a chaplain identification cared [sic] with the state’s official seal.

“[The officer] accused him of not being a pastor,” said Fernando Rodriguez, who is a pastor at a different church, the House of Prayer Church in Albertville, Alabama, who had been traveling with Hernandez at the time. The officer also questioned Rodriguez, a native of Honduras, on his immigration status but fortunately he had his green card.

And then there is the case of Mohamed Ali Muflahi arrested Friday, but he is here LEGALLY. This small article is flimsy. He was arrested for “obstructing a government operation”. What the hell does that mean??