AG Strange on immigration ruling

DAPHNE, Ala. (WALA) - Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange gave the keynote speech at the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday.

The meeting took place at the Daphne, Alabama Homewood Suites Hotel.  The Attorney General spoke to reporter's before the luncheon.

Hot on the heels of the U. S. Supreme Court's ruling on Arizona's Immigration law, Strange said the 11-th Circuit Court of Appeals has asked Alabama for briefs on its position.

Attorney General Strange said they should have those complete by next week.

"And then the Court of Appeals will look at our law in light on the new decision and give us an opinion as to where our law actually stands," said Strange.

He said the Court of Appeals has the U. S. Supreme Court's case and could respond in the next few weeks.

"I viewed the [U. S. Supreme Court's] decision as sort of a mixed bag: good for law enforcement, because it establishes we can still work with federal law enforcement, that's good, but the Federal Government has preemption in a lot of areas.," said Strange.

In it's opinion on Monday, U. S. Supreme Court Justices for the court, said the Federal Government enforces immigration law, not the states.  Strange said the dilemma for states is that the Feds are not enforcing those laws.

"You know I think [U. S. Supreme Court Justices] were telling the federal government, you've got the responsibility, you've got to do your job and that's what we'd all like to see," said Strange.

Strange said his office has tried to work with the Federal Department of Justice on immigration matters.

"Unfortunately, we've not gotten much response from them," said Strange, "We want to make sure that every body's rights are respected there's no profiling or anything like that in the law enforcement world."

Strange said the DOJ has referenced some issues taking place in Alabama.

"We ask them, please let us know, because even if there is one instance where someone is not being treated properly we want to know about it cause we want to fix it," said Strange.

The Attorney General said police across Alabama are currently enforcing laws as they always have.  They call the Feds if a suspect is determined to be an illegal immigrant.

"We ask them if they's like to take this individual and they say "yes" or "no," said Strange.  Asked what happens when the Feds respond, no; he said they let the person go.

Luther Strange was elected Alabama’s 49th Attorney General on November 2, 2010. As Attorney General, Strange is charged with representing and defending the interests of the people of the State of Alabama and serves as the State’s chief law enforcement officer.

Prior to his election as Attorney General, Strange was an attorney and founder of Strange LLC, a law firm based in Birmingham.