Targeting Undocumented Migrants: Examining HB56 and the Challenges that Arise

Laws targeting undocumented migrants have long been a global issue. This report examines and dissects one law in a small part of the United States, HB 56 in Alabama, and make it a reference for examining what is currently happening throughout the world. Moreover, this report demonstrates two points: First, that while these types of laws are commonly challenged, they are often challenged on grounds other than human rights. Second, it argues that specific laws that unfairly target undocumented migrants are not concentrated to specific region in the world, rather, it is a global phenomenon. In regards to these specific laws, arguments can be made that the challenges which come from NGOs, multinational organizations, grass-roots groups, and country governments can sometimes miss the point when fighting them in court. Instead of focusing on the core issue of the rights of migrants as humans, the focus can shift to jurisdiction over immigration laws.