To Governor Kay Ivey and Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth:
I’m writing this letter to help explain the issues surrounding the massive influx of Haitian migrants in Alabama.
About six weeks ago, I received multiple phone calls about Haitian migrants being bussed to and from Boaz, Alabama. One of the phone calls was from the mayor of Boaz, and after a brief conversation, he asked me to speak to the City Council and educate them on what was going on and why. That same night, I was contacted by concerned citizens in Albertville to speak at a community forum regarding the same topic.
There were around 250 in attendance. Most of the comments and questions from the public were civil, except for a couple of racist remarks that were quickly shut down. This and subsequent meetings have been well documented by 1819 News and other outlets. What is disheartening is some of the TV stations that were in attendance chose to focus on the brief instance of negativity in the room and ignore the positive that was accomplished.
This is, in part, what has contributed to a severe lack of understanding in our state and communities about how and why the migrant influx is happening and what can and cannot be done to address associated issues.
Communities are being overrun with migrants due to the Biden-Harris administration’s open border policies and the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan Program (CHNV). This program allows 30,000 migrants to be flown into the United States each month if they have a “sponsor.” Upon arrival, the migrants qualify for an abundance of benefits coordinated by the sponsor. Ironically, this program was shut down the first week of August 2024 due to the financial fraud of the sponsors. In other words, neither the sponsors nor migrants were being vetted.
I believe similar financial fraud is rampant in Alabama via the sponsors who have applied to help support incoming migrants, especially Haitians. This program was restarted the last week of August, so once again migrants are being flown into all states and bused into Alabama.
I won’t go into all the details and benefits because they are extensive, but one constant is that all migrants who are flown in are given employment authorization documents (EAD) so they can legally work in the United States. After speaking to Haitian Pastors and business leaders, I estimate there are over 15,000 Haitians in the surrounding communities, including Sylacauga. I was also informed there are thousands more on the way in the next three weeks.
Why are they coming to Alabama and small communities? It is simple: working in poultry plants and other agricultural industrial jobs. Predatory migration has saturated small cities for two reasons only: cheap labor and housing. This is why buses are circulating in five or six counties with migrants. They are taking them to and from work because there is insufficient housing near their work sites. This has opened the door for human trafficking, gangs and unsanitary living conditions.
Who is doing this? It is not the poultry plants that are bringing them to the communities; it is staffing agencies. Staffing agencies are advertising job openings throughout the country in Alabama. Most migrant workers are not employed by the actual company (e.g., Pilgrim's Pride) but by staffing agencies who get a portion of their salary, even if they’re making below minimum wage. The majority of the migrants do not speak English and just do what they are told. Many times, their passports, employment authorization documents and other immigration papers are held by a “sponsor” to prevent rebellion or reporting. The migrants are also often packed eight to 12 in a single hotel room or small house.
This has happened in Alabama before at Mercedes in Vance. Once Mercedes found out what was going on, they did the right thing and shut down the staffing agencies.
More recently, in the Northern District of Alabama on September 5, a woman from Guatemala living in Russellville was indicted for passport and voter fraud. This is still rampant in Alabama.
This is going to get worse. Some Haitian and Hispanic communities are at odds, and this will lead to accelerated tension. Why? The Hispanic workers are asking for higher wages and the staffing agencies want lower wages. Therefore, they are replacing the Hispanic workers with Haitian workers who will work for much less, whether documented or undocumented. One example is Coffee County, where 600 Hispanic workers are reportedly being replaced with Haitians.
This has a gang twist as well. People asked me why migrants tolerate this treatment. The answer is poverty. If you are unemployed or make $5,000 in your home country and $10,000 in the U.S., you do not complain. The asterisk is they should make a lot more.
To recap, the reason for the influx of Haitians is the open border and CHNV Program, jobs by staffing companies, available housing and sponsors trafficking workers to the communities. It takes a trained eye to look at an immigration document in order to determine a true status. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has made it clear to local law enforcement that they will not detain an “illegal migrant” unless it meets a certain threshold, which is usually a violent crime.
Some ideas for addressing the situation:
Local cities and municipalities could/should enforce housing codes and hold the “slum lords” accountable. Local property owners make so much money, and multinational companies are buying up real estate.
Educating law enforcement and the community is vital to the solution. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency does an outstanding job, but they can only do so much!
Staffing companies should be held accountable. The state can require them to complete E-Verify and not just “build a case.”
Engage local Haitian pastors and leaders to understand what is going on in the community. I spoke at a Haitian church to find people who are being trafficked. It worked.
Form a task force to address the problem.
Create a community organization. Citizens of Marshall County have formed a Non-Profit(501-c applied) to implement the ideas above. (www.tttoday.org)
In closing, I have been in the Marshall County area for over six weeks at the request of community leaders and certain elected officials. Legal or illegal, these migrants are here, and this cannot be ignored.
I would like to thank U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and Dale Strong (R-Monrovia) for their support directly and indirectly, Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth’s office along with Attorney General Steve Marshall. I have reached out to U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn).
With God's Blessings,
Jay Palmer
Former Immigration Advisor to the Trump Administration
Native of Barbour County, Alabama
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
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