19 Illegal Immigrants Arrested in Mobile and Baldwin Counties This Week

Nineteen people were arrested across Mobile County and Baldwin Counties during the week of August 18, 2025, in coordinated immigration enforcement actions led by FBI Mobile with support from multiple federal and local partners. According to officials, at least four of those detained had prior criminal histories, with offenses that included forgery, assault, DUI, and earlier immigration violations. Agents also recovered one unaccompanied alien child during the sweep. Authorities say the arrests reflect Alabama’s tougher approach to immigration this year and closer teamwork between state and federal agencies.

FBI Mobile confirmed the operation covered communities in both counties, with arrests tied to immigration-related offenses. The weeklong push brought together a wide roster of agencies: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Silverhill Police Department, the Daphne Police Department, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. The agencies emphasized public safety and coordination as core reasons for the effort.

Local officials did not release individual names. The joint team said the four people with past criminal records were part of the larger group but did not specify which charges will be pursued at the state or federal level. For families in Mobile County and in the Eastern Shore communities, the immediate impact was felt as loved ones tried to locate relatives and figure out who had custody of the child recovered in the operation.

Officials say the action comes amid a statewide shift. New Alabama laws—some already in effect, others taking effect this fall—are shaping what happens on the street during a traffic stop, at local jails, and in later federal processing.

Policy Shifts Driving the Crackdown

The new statewide measures changing enforcement and processing include:

• SB 63 — Took effect June 1, 2025
  • Requires mandatory DNA and fingerprint collection for any undocumented noncitizen taken into custody in Alabama, even if that person is never charged or convicted.
  • Supporters: say it strengthens identity checks.
  • Critics (civil rights groups): argue the rule sweeps too broadly and risks misuse of private data.
• SB 53 — Effective October 1, 2025
  • Often called a “show me your papers” measure by critics.
  • Orders local officers to check immigration status and notify federal authorities when they have reasonable suspicion someone is unlawfully present.
  • Creates a new state felony for “human smuggling”, criminalizing the transport of undocumented people into Alabama.
  • Contains narrow exemptions for certain professionals and organizations, but community groups worry the lines are unclear and everyday travel could trigger arrests.
• Senate Bill 158 — Signed May 12, 2025
  • Bars the use of foreign national driver licenses as valid photo ID for voting in Alabama.
  • While not a criminal law, it adds another layer to the state’s broader policy shift on immigration and identity documents.

These moves are part of a larger national pattern. VisaVerge.com reports that Alabama is among 37 states that passed more than 100 new immigration-related laws in 2025, many focused on expanding state and local policing of immigration and adding new state penalties.

• Supporters’ view:
  • Say these laws close gaps and send a clear signal to deter illegal activity.
• Critics’ view:
  • Warn the laws invite racial profiling, clash with federal authority, and revive debates last prominent a decade ago.
  • Note similarities to enforcement trends during the Trump administration.

Governor Kay Ivey has backed the new laws, saying they aim to protect public safety and the integrity of elections. Legislative sponsors argue the state is responding to residents who want tougher rules, including lawful immigrants who follow the system. Advocacy groups—including the Alabama Immigrant Advocacy Coalition and ¡HICA!—warn of privacy concerns from DNA collection and fear the felony transport provision could sweep in family members, church volunteers, or neighbors.

Impact on Families and Local Agencies

For many mixed-status households in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, the week’s news landed hard.

• Under SB 63, someone taken into custody can face DNA and fingerprint collection, even if the underlying issue began with a minor stop.
• Starting October 1 under SB 53, an officer who suspects unlawful presence must check status and alert federal partners.

In practice, that means routine traffic stops and everyday encounters can pull people into the system much faster than before.

Community groups report widespread fear and behavior changes:

• Parents are making emergency plans for child care.
• Workers are avoiding long drives to job sites across the bay.
• College students are reconsidering moves between campuses.
• People avoid giving rides to relatives or friends for fear of a “human smuggling” charge, even when no money is exchanged.

Law enforcement agencies say they face new duties and pressure:

• Officers must run immigration checks when they have reasonable suspicion and coordinate with federal authorities.
• The shift increases paperwork and requires clear training on when suspicion is justified.
• Police leaders say they will try to avoid profiling while following the law, but civil rights groups remain skeptical.

Faith leaders and legal aid groups report:

• A sharp rise in calls about guardianship papers and commuting concerns.
• People are more likely to avoid court dates out of fear, which can turn small issues into larger legal problems.
• Legal aid organizations are seeing more consultations from construction crews, hospitality workers, and farm laborers.

What Happens After an Arrest

The recent operation illustrates a process likely to become more common as the new laws take effect:

1. Local arrest or detention occurs.
2. If officers determine the person is an undocumented noncitizen in custody, SB 63 requires DNA and fingerprints.
3. Under SB 53 (after October 1, 2025), officers must check immigration status and notify federal partners if unlawful presence is suspected.
4. Federal and local agencies—such as FBI Mobile, HSI, ERO, and CBP—coordinate next steps.
5. Potential outcomes:
   • State charges under the new “human smuggling” provision if facts fit.
   • Federal immigration proceedings and possible removal.
   • Child welfare procedures for unaccompanied minors, typically moving the child into federal care while relatives are located.

In the latest Mobile-area action, four of the 19 arrested had prior criminal histories—information officials say affects detention decisions and bond outcomes. People without criminal histories can still face removal if they lack legal status, though their cases may be processed differently from those involving violence or fraud. With the one unaccompanied alien child identified, child welfare and family-placement procedures are triggered.

Families searching for loved ones detained during the operation have been calling local jails, federal hotlines, and community groups for updates. Advocacy organizations in Alabama are helping relatives locate where someone is being held and determine the type of case they face.

• Lawyers report a spike in consultations from:
  • Construction crews
  • Hospitality workers
  • Farm laborers
• Because the laws are new, confusion is common:
  • People ask whether driving a cousin to a doctor’s appointment could be “human smuggling.”
  • They worry whether an expired tag could trigger an immigration check.
  • Attorneys say each case depends on specific facts, but emphasize that the felony transport language focuses on bringing undocumented people into Alabama. Advocates worry fear will extend beyond that narrow reading.

Supporters of the crackdown argue:

• Clear laws deter illegal activity and protect residents.
• The presence of individuals with prior criminal records in the latest sweep shows enforcement targets risk.
• Stronger teamwork between local and federal authorities can prevent repeat offenses.
• The child recovered during the operation demonstrates enforcement uncovering other risks.

Critics counter:

• The costs will be felt at home and at work.
• Predict increased racial profiling complaints, higher court and jail costs, and strain on local police handling added duties.
• Legal scholars note state immigration laws may face federal preemption challenges, though courts might allow some state roles.
• Several advocacy groups expect litigation once SB 53 takes effect.

Important: As the October 1, 2025 start date for SB 53 approaches, coastal Alabama is bracing for more enforcement actions. Families, advocates, and local businesses are preparing for an extended period of arrests, court hearings, and difficult choices about daily life under the state’s new rules.

For residents seeking official federal information, the FBI Mobile Field Office maintains a public contact page with updates and contact details: FBI Mobile Field Office.

Community organizations offering help, referrals, and know-your-rights sessions tailored to Alabama’s new laws include:

• Alabama Immigrant Advocacy Coalition
• Centro de Acceso para Latinos de Alabama (CALA)
• ¡HICA!

Officials say they will continue to coordinate enforcement. Meanwhile, families and local businesses in Mobile and Baldwin Counties are adjusting to a new enforcement environment and preparing to navigate its practical and legal consequences.