Alabama governor signs strict, controversial immigration bill

The legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, Mary Bauer, said she expects a lawsuit to be filed before the provisions of the law are scheduled to take effect on Sept. 1.

“It is clearly unconstitutional. It’s mean-spirited, racist, and we think a court will enjoin it.’’

Sam Brooks of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Immigrant Justice Project said the new law will set back progress Alabama has made on civil rights and race relations. He also said it would be costly for the state to enforce and defend the law.

According to the 2010 US census, 3.9 percent — about 186,000 — of the state’s nearly 4.8 million people identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino, more than double the number reported in the 2000 census.

One of the sponsors, Senator Scott Beason, a Republican of Gardendale, said the legislation would create jobs and put unemployed residents back to work.

“This will put thousands of Alabamians back in the workforce,’’ Beason said.

But Jared Shepherd, an attorney for the ACLU, said he does not believe the law has anything to do with jobs.

“This is about trying to put anti-immigration sentiment into law,’’ Shepherd said. .

Bentley, who campaigned on passing the toughest anti-illegal immigration bill possible, said he believes the measure can withstand legal challenges.

Alabama’s measure was modeled on a similar law passed in Arizona.