MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The U.S. Justice Department told Alabama’s attorney general that it wants enrollment information from schools because it has received complaints about possible discrimination under Alabama’s tough new immigration law, and the agency is evaluating the potential for civil rights law violations.
Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez sent the letter Friday. It was a response to Attorney General Luther Strange, who questioned if the Justice Department had the legal authority to seek lists of student enrollments and withdrawals from 39 school systems with significant Hispanic populations. Strange had sought an answer by noon Friday and got it.
In it, Perez questioned the attorney general’s authority.
“Separately, it is our understanding that you do not represent the school districts that we contacted,” Perez wrote.
A spokeswoman for the attorney general said he was studying the letter and would comment later.