Immigration (Driver Licenses & IDs)

SB 45 requires individuals applying for certain driver licenses in Alabama to present documentation proving lawful presence in the United States. This affects applicants seeking specific license classes under Section 32-6-18 of the Alabama Code of 1975. The bill revises licensing rules to invalidate licenses issued without this proof of lawful presence. The measure is currently pending committee review in the Alabama Senate.

HB 13, titled the "Laken Riley Act," establishes procedures for Alabama state and local law enforcement to interact with federal immigration authorities. It allows officers to arrest individuals based on immigration status or federal immigration violations, requires jails to honor federal immigration detainer requests, and mandates quarterly reporting on foreign nationals held in county/municipal jails. The bill also creates standardized intake and booking processes for undocumented individuals and permits law enforcement to transport them to federal custody. These provisions directly affect law enforcement agencies, county jails, and individuals in Alabama without legal immigration status.