1819 News: U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville: Alabama's wake-up call — Why Trump's immigration policy matters

It’s no secret that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris oversaw the most disastrous open borders in American history. In my role as a U.S. senator, I opposed their willful failure to enforce our laws and protect American citizens every step of the way. Now, as I’m running to be Alabama’s next governor, I’m particularly concerned about the ripple effects Biden’s bad policies are having back home in Alabama. Whether you consider construction sites in Baldwin County, traffic stops in Mobile, or raids in Blount County, Biden’s illegal immigration legacy is having devastating effects on our great state. 

Unfortunately, innocent Alabamians have lost their lives at the hands of violent illegal immigrants who came in under Biden. In 2023, an illegal and previously deported immigrant was indicted in Tallapoosa County for the capital murders of a woman and her young son. In 2024, another was charged in Enterprise with the rape of a 14-year-old mentally incapacitated girl. Earlier this year in Limestone County, a Guatemalan national was caught in the act of sexually abusing a child under 12. 

This is not to mention the hundreds of Alabamians who lost their lives to the fentanyl and other deadly drugs that were smuggled into this country by illegal aliens. As a father and grandfather, I’m gravely worried about our kids’ safety. The U.S. government’s first job is to protect American citizens – and Joe Biden failed to do that. We have to do better.

There are also serious national security concerns that need to be addressed. We know that more than 100 potential terrorists crossed our borders over the four years Biden was in office. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I can tell you that countries like Iran, Russia and China would love nothing more than to infiltrate the United States and try to take us down. Alabama is a leader in defense – and we must ensure we don’t give terrorists a foothold in our great state. When I am governor, priority one will be working with federal officials to arrest and deport every single potential terrorist who seeks to destroy this country. 

We also have to make sure illegal immigrants aren’t gaming the system to steal benefits from American taxpayers. In blue states like California, it’s come out that illegal immigrants are stealing entitlements like health care, education, and public safety benefits that belong to American citizens. We are $37 trillion in debt. In other words, we’re dead broke. Every time we spend taxpayer money on illegal aliens, we are stealing that money away from law-abiding American citizens. As governor, I will protect entitlements for Alabama’s taxpayers, not illegal immigrants.

Another frequent concern I hear from small business owners in Alabama has to do with the future of the work visa programs. We want law-abiding foreign workers who want to come to Alabama and help us grow and build our state, but they have to do it the right way. We have immigration laws in this country for a reason – and they must be enforced.

But this isn’t just about national security or fiscal sanity – it’s much more sinister. Ever since President Trump came down the golden escalator in 2016, radical Democrats have lost their minds. Trump is the most popular he has ever been – and Democrats don’t have a coalition or a platform. They are getting desperate. That’s why I believe they brought all of these illegals here – to vote in our elections and fundamentally transform the soul of this country. Think about it – if hundreds of thousands of illegals moved to Alabama, they could influence the makeup of our congressional districts. We cannot let that happen. When I’m governor, we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure only Americans are voting in our elections.

Thankfully, Trump is back in office and working around the clock to deport criminals and restore law and order. Nearly 1,000 illegal immigrants have been apprehended across Alabama in just the first few months of Trump's second term. More than 500 of those illegals were caught during dozens of raids in South Alabama. Many have prior deportation orders, criminal records, and gang affiliations. When I am governor, we will work hand in glove with the Trump administration to identify even more illegals and send them packing. 

I have said before – if you are a citizen of this country, you will be afforded due process and your day in court. These same protections do not extend to illegal immigrants, however. Like having a driver's license, being in America is a privilege for those who cross the border legally. As Alabama’s next governor, I will support law enforcement, work with the Trump administration to deport criminals, and work to keep Alabamians safe.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees. To read the full op-ed on 1819 News, click here.