Members of Congress Sign Amicus Brief in Support of DOJ Lawsuit Against HB 5639
Press Release
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL-4) and 38 other House Democrats signed a brief of amicus curiae in support of the Department of Justice lawsuit against Alabama's anti-immigrant law, HB 56. The amicus brief, which was filed on Monday, November 21st, asserts foremost that the Alabama statute is unconstitutional because it is preempted by federal law. The amicus brief also highlights the harm that the Alabama statute will cause to all Alabamans, including citizens. Rep. Gutierrez led the effort to enlist his congressional colleagues in signing on to the amicus brief and led a delegation of Members of Congress who traveled to Alabama on November 21st to hear directly from Alabamans about the devastating impact of the new draconian law.
"The Constitution is quite clear about the federal government's preeminent role in immigration matters and having 50 inconsistent state policies towards immigrants is a level of chaos the Founders sought to avoid," said Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, who chairs the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. "HB 56 adds layers of punitive measures targeting Alabama residents that are inconsistent with federal policy. Congress has the responsibility to balance many concerns in legislating federal immigration policy, such as law enforcement, the economy, family unity, education, civil rights, and so on. HB 56 has and will cause irreparable harm to communities and families throughout Alabama, but will also cause irreparable damage to Constitutional principles if allowed to stand. We join the U.S. Department of Justice, civil rights organizations, immigrant advocates, educators and people of faith in calling for HB 56 to be stripped from Alabama's law books."
The Members of the House of Representatives signed on to the amicus brief include Democratic Whip, Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Judiciary Committee Ranking Member, John Conyers (D-MI), Immigration Subcommittee Ranking Member, Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL).
The complete list is as follows:
Congressman Joe Baca
Congressman Xavier Becerra
Congressman Dennis Cardoza
Congresswoman Judy Chu
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
Congressman John Conyers
Congressman Jim Costa
Congressman Ted Deutch
Congressman Keith Ellison
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
Congressman Charles Gonzalez
Congressman Al Green
Congressman Raúl Grijalva
Congressman Luis Gutierrez
Congresswoman Janice Hahn
Congressman Rubén Hinojosa
Congressman Mike Honda
Congressman Steny Hoyer
Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
Congressman Jim McDermott
Congressman Gregory Meeks
Congresswoman Gwen Moore
Congressman Jim Moran
Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
Congressman Pedro Pierluisi
Congressman Jared Polis
Congressman Mike Quigley
Congressman Charles Rangel
Congressman Silvestre Reyes
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard
Congressman Gregorio Sablan
Congresswoman Janice Schakowsky
Congressman José Serrano
Congresswoman Terri Sewell
Congressman Albio Sires
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez
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