By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Republican Gov. Bob Riley says he expects to mention immigration reform as one of his priorities when he gives his ``State of the State'' speech on March Sixth at the start of the 2007 session. Republicans and Democrats both made the issue a priority during last year's Alabama election campaigns. Immigrant law specialists voice caution on the issue and Hispanic advocates say proposals have been unfair or misplaced. But so far, bills being proposed by the governor and legislators would: send to jail employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, prevent illegal immigrants from receiving many state services, and make it a crime for them to give false information to register to vote. Riley says he would also like to see the Legislature pass a measure to prohibit companies that ``knowingly hire illegal aliens'' from doing business with the state.