South Alabama ICE raids split families, spark racial profiling fears

Immigration arrests have surged across Southern Alabama in 2025 as new state laws and tougher federal actions drive a sharp rise in detentions, family separations, and fears of racial profiling, according to state records, advocacy groups, and local officials. Alabama has already recorded 1,947 ICE arrests through June 26, 2025, exceeding the total of 1,823 for all of 2024. The FBI reports more than 500 immigration-related arrests in Southern Alabama—centered in Mobile and Baldwin counties—since January 20, with at least 46 arrests in a single week in June.

Alabama now ranks 14th nationally for ICE arrests, a position that, according to analysis by VisaVerge.com, reflects aggressive enforcement in counties that partner closely with federal agents. The pace is tied to two new laws signed by Governor Kay Ivey—SB 53, the “show me your papers” statute that takes effect October 1, 2025, and SB 63, which took effect June 1, 2025 and requires DNA and fingerprint collection from all undocumented noncitizens held in custody, whether or not they are charged or convicted.

Advocates say the changes have fueled a climate of fear and confusion, while state leaders defend them as necessary for public safety. Beyond the statewide totals, Southern Alabama has become a major enforcement hotspot.

Where arrests are happening and how coordination works

Local reports describe ICE operations at construction sites, food processing plants, schools, and restaurants. Parents in Baldwin County were alarmed by reports of activity near Loxley Elementary School, and restaurant workers in Mobile say uniformed and plainclothes teams have questioned staff during peak business hours.

With 26 county sheriff’s departments or police agencies now partnering with ICE, coordination has become routine: local arrests can fast-track people into federal detention, often within hours.

Federal officials say their criteria have not changed: ICE lists three groups it targets—
– people with criminal convictions,
– those with pending charges, and
– those without charges who have violated civil immigration laws.

However, new 2025 directives allow arrests in places that were once generally avoided (such as schools and hospitals) and reduce Department of Homeland Security oversight of field actions. Civil rights groups argue that fewer DHS checks, alongside broader state powers under SB 53, raise the risk of wrongful detentions and racial profiling.

“DHS denies targeting based on race, saying arrests are ‘highly targeted’ and that officers use ‘due diligence.’”
Civil rights groups counter that the combination of reduced oversight and broader state authority increases the chance of mistakes and biases in enforcement.

Notable incidents and legal response

Concerns over racial profiling grew after a May 23, 2025 incident in which a U.S. citizen was forcibly removed from a construction site by ICE agents despite presenting valid identification. Advocates cite the case as part of a pattern in which Latino citizens and lawful residents are questioned or detained because of how they look, speak, or where they work.

• The National Immigration Project and MALDEF call the practices unconstitutional and say they plan to sue.
• Alabama officials counter that SB 53 requires “reasonable suspicion,” not profiling, and that officers must verify immigration status only when the law allows.

Impact on families and communities

Families are feeling the strain first. Community groups in Mobile and Baldwin counties report:
– Children returning to empty apartments after workplace raids.
– Families rushing to sign guardianship papers in case a parent is taken.
– Some children skipping school because parents fear encounters with police on the way to class.

Doctors in clinic networks say missed appointments are up, especially among mixed-status families. Civil rights lawyers warn that parents’ fear of arrest can push children into foster care even when relatives are available. Landlords report sudden vacancies after raids; teachers say students are withdrawing mid-semester; pastors describe long prayer lists for detained parents waiting in county jails.

Economic effects on local industries

Alabama’s economy relies on immigrant labor in agriculture, food processing, and construction. Employers in these sectors say the wave of immigration arrests has:
– Made it harder to fill shifts,
– Caused delays in completing projects,
– Increased turnover and absenteeism.

Allison Hamilton of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice says the laws “drive up costs” and “invite racial profiling.” Some contractors in Southern Alabama report losing entire crews after a single raid.

Supporters’ arguments and legal scholar concerns

Supporters argue the new approach:
– Deters unlawful entry, and
– Reduces crime by removing people with criminal records more quickly.

Governor Kay Ivey has framed SB 53 and SB 63 as “law and order” measures to protect communities and strengthen state-federal cooperation. Sheriffs in partnering counties say closer work with ICE helps them remove people with criminal records faster.

Legal scholars caution that:
– “Reasonable suspicion” is a flexible standard that can be applied unevenly.
– Officers often must make quick judgments without clear guidance, increasing the risk of inconsistent enforcement.

Arrests rise as new laws take effect

Under SB 53 (effective October 1, 2025):
– An officer who develops “reasonable suspicion” that a person is unlawfully present must verify immigration status.
– The law also requires checks for anyone charged with certain crimes while in jail.
– It creates a new state offense of “human smuggling,” with limited exemptions for official school trips, medical care, legal counsel, and religious or charitable work.
– Civil rights groups say these rules will lead to more traffic stops and confusion over which documents are acceptable.

Expected process under SB 53:
1. Law enforcement makes a stop or starts an investigation.
2. If the officer has reasonable suspicion of unlawful presence, they must request proof of status.
3. Acceptable documents include a valid U.S. driver’s license or state ID, a tribal enrollment card, or federal immigration papers.
4. If a person lacks sufficient documents, the officer must contact federal authorities.
5. Anyone charged with certain state, county, or municipal crimes will receive an immigration status check while in jail.
6. Transporting an undocumented person into Alabama can lead to “human smuggling” charges, with narrow listed exemptions.

By contrast, SB 63 (effective June 1, 2025):
– Mandates that officers collect DNA and fingerprints from all undocumented noncitizens in custody, even if they are never charged.
– Attorneys say blanket collection raises privacy and due process questions.
– State officials respond that biometrics improve identification and safety for victims and officers.

New federal practices under the current administration have also widened where ICE teams operate. In 2025, arrests have been reported in places families once considered off-limits. That shift, combined with Alabama’s partnership network, helps explain why the state’s arrest count rose 6.8% over 2024 by midyear.

Legal and community fallout

Lawsuits are expected to shape what happens next. Key points:
– The National Immigration Project and MALDEF are preparing challenges to SB 53 and SB 63, arguing the laws enable racial profiling and conflict with federal authority.
– Attorneys say cases could reach the Supreme Court, similar to parts of Alabama’s HB 56 (2011) that were later blocked.
– Congress is reviewing the reduction in DHS oversight of ICE operations, with hearings expected later in 2025.

Local responses include:
– “Know Your Rights” events teaching families how to respond during traffic stops.
– Help preparing power-of-attorney paperwork for childcare.
– Community hotlines and clinic contacts shared by advocacy groups (families are advised to confirm advice with a trusted lawyer before signing documents or agreeing to removal).

Data and human stakes

Key statistics:
– Immigrants make up about 4% of Alabama’s population.
– Approximately 1.5% are estimated to be undocumented.
– 26 local agencies in Alabama now partner with ICE.

The human impacts ripple across neighborhoods:
– Absences at work and school,
– Economic disruption for employers,
– Emotional and legal stress on families.

ICE encourages families to use the Online Detainee Locator to find loved ones who have been moved. The official portal is here: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/index. Community groups also share hotline numbers and clinic contacts, but they warn families to verify any advice with a trusted lawyer.

Current outlook

State officials say the goal is to enforce the law and remove people with criminal records. In practice, however, the list of those swept up includes people without convictions—ICE’s three-category approach explicitly covers people who have no charges at all. That broad net, paired with on-the-spot status checks starting statewide on October 1, is why racial profiling fears persist and why wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens—such as the May 23 case—spark such anger.

For now:
– The pressure is likely to continue.
– Migration researchers note ICE focuses where local partners are cooperative; 26 agencies in Alabama now fit that description.
– Employers report labor shocks; parents prepare for contingencies; civil rights lawyers pursue court challenges.

Officials in Montgomery and Washington offer different pictures: supporters emphasize law and order; opponents emphasize fear and family loss. In Southern Alabama—where more than 500 arrests have been logged since January 20—both realities are visible: at traffic stops, in school lunch lines, and at restaurant counters during the dinner rush.