State advocates speak out amidst proposed Trump-Vance administration immigration proposals

DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — Alabama advocates are speaking out about proposed immigration policies from President-Elect Donald Trump and Vice-President-Elect J.D. Vance, urging awareness but also calm.

Comments center around temporary protected status (TPS), which applies to roughly one million people from 17 countries facing violence, oppression, human rights abuses, and/or natural disasters.

"When folks have temporary protected status, that means they're authorized to be here," says Dr. Carlos E. Alemán, CEO of Birmingham-based Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama.

The organization focuses on helping improve the quality of life of Hispanic families in the state and addresses topics such as economic opportunity, social justice, and civil engagement.

He continues, "This provides them at least a measure of relief in that they are now not forced to return to a situation that might end with them being harmed in some sort of fashion."

Protecting migrants, he continues, is vital.

"If you're pro-life, you should be pro-TPS....We, as a nation, have said historically that we are a place where folks can come when they have been persecuted," Alemán says.

Despite rhetoric from both Trump and Vance, Alemán says legal checks and balances could keep most of what they want enacted from becoming law.

Alemán's comments also come following baseless claims against Haitian-American TPS recipients in Springfield stealing and eating pets.

Similarly, in Enterprise, a September community forum at Open Door Baptist Church featured former Trump advisor Jason Palmer and community members airing concerns over misinformation linking Haitian immigrants to increased crime. Enterprise Police say Haitian immigrants are not contributing to increased crime.

"We hear very clearly what this administration potentially would like to do, but we're a country of rules," Alemán says. "And so we'll see what actually gets implemented."

For now, Alemán urges people to stay calm but stay aware.

He says, "What we want to avoid is a panic. But we also want to make sure that people are following the information so that they are as informed as possible as to how this might impact them."