Alabama Cracks Down on Illegal Immigration

As the 2025 legislative session wraps up, Governor Kay Ivey has signed two new bills aimed at bolstering the fight against illegal immigration. These measures seek to eliminate any incentives for undocumented individuals to settle in Alabama.

New Laws Target Voting and Data Collection

Ivey signed SB158, strengthening Alabama's laws regarding noncitizen voting, and SB63, mandating law enforcement to collect fingerprints and DNA samples from undocumented immigrants already in custody.

Protecting Communities and Elections

"Alabama is stepping up to safeguard our communities and the integrity of our elections," Ivey stated. "These bills close a loophole in voter ID laws and enhance law enforcement's ability to identify undocumented immigrants with criminal records."

SB158: Fortifying Voter ID Laws

SB158, sponsored by Senator Will Barfoot, prohibits the use of foreign national driver's licenses as valid photo IDs for voting in Alabama. Previously, state law didn't explicitly exclude these licenses.

Secretary of State Wes Allen's Praise

Secretary of State Wes Allen applauded the bill's passage, stating it "codifies an important common-sense election integrity measure that will protect the vote of every Alabamian."

SB63: Streamlining Biometric Data Collection

SB63, introduced by State Sen. Lance Bell, requires law enforcement to collect biometric data from undocumented immigrants in custody.

Connecting Criminals to Crimes

Bell highlighted a case where DNA evidence linked an individual in custody to a murder in California. "Our Department of Forensic Sciences has a great system and database," Bell explained, "and this is just one more group of individuals to put into that that we already have available.”

Bipartisan Support

Both bills passed the Legislature with backing from both parties.