News & Commentary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2015

CONTACT:
Erik Olvera, Communications Director, NCLR, 415-392-6257 ext. 324, [email protected]
Brooke Anderson, Communications Manager, ACLU of Alabama, 334-420-1750, [email protected]

MOBILE, Ala.--Moments ago, United States District Judge Callie V. S. Granade instructed Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Today’s order followed a hearing in which four same-sex couples, who were unable to obtain marriage licenses in Mobile on Monday when marriage equality went into effect in the state, asked Judge Granade to instruct Judge Davis to begin issuing marriage licenses. The order requires Judge Davis to begin issuing licenses immediately.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2015

CONTACT:
Erik Olvera, Communications Director, NCLR, 415-392-6257 ext. 324, [email protected]
Brooke Anderson, Communications Manager, ACLU of Alabama, 334-420-1750, [email protected]

MOBILE, Ala.—Today, four same-sex couples in Mobile, AL asked United States District Judge Callie V. S. Granade to instruct Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis to issue them marriage licenses after Davis stopped issuing marriage licenses entirely today rather than issue licenses to same-sex couples as Judge Granade previously ordered.

In their request to Judge Granade, the couples explained that each of them appeared at the Davis’s Mobile offices and were denied marriage licenses. The couples’ request explains that they are suffering serious harm each day that they continue to be excluded from marriage.

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Agreement Blocks Final Provisions of Anti-Immigrant Law, HB 56, Challenged in Courts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2014

CONTACT:
Inga Sarda-Sorensen, American Civil Liberties Union, 212-549-2666; [email protected]
Rebecca Sturtevant, Southern Poverty Law Center, 802-598-6445; [email protected]
Adela de la Torre, National Immigration Law Center, 213-674-2832; [email protected]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama will not publish a list of purportedly “unlawfully present” immigrants, according to an agreement announced today by civil rights groups that had sued to block publication on the grounds that it would violate individuals’ due process rights and exceed the state’s authority.

The agreement is pending final approval by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama Northern Division. If approved, it will block the final provision of Alabama’s anti-immigrant law that has been challenged in court. The law, commonly known as HB 56, has been largely eviscerated by legal challenges from the groups, which include the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama Foundation.

“This is yet another victory for Alabama’s immigrant community,” said Sam Brooke, SPLC staff attorney. “Blocking this final vestige of HB 56 is another nail in the coffin for Alabama’s misguided attempt to bully and intimidate immigrants. But even with this victory, meaningful immigration reform is still critically needed. We call on Congress to fix our nation’s broken immigration system, rather than blocking reform under the empty promise that it will be addressed ‘next year.’”

The law provided no notice to people that their name and information would be posted online. It also failed to provide any means for people to remove their names or change their information if the listing was inaccurate or if their immigration status changed – even if they became citizens.

October 6, 2014
CONTACT: Brooke Anderson, ACLU