Concealing, harboring, shielding, etc., unauthorized aliens.

(a) It shall be unlawful for a person to do any of the following:

(1) Conceal, harbor, or shield from detection or attempt to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection or conspire to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection an alien in any place in this state, including any building or any means of transportation, if the person knows or recklessly disregards the fact that the alien has come to, has entered, or remains in the United States in violation of federal law. This subdivision should be interpreted consistent with 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A).

(2) Encourage or induce an alien to come to or reside in this state if the person knows or recklessly disregards the fact that such alien's coming to, entering, or residing in the United States is or will be in violation of federal law. This subdivision should be interpreted consistent with 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A).

(3) Transport, or attempt to transport, or conspire to transport in this state an alien in furtherance of the unlawful presence of the alien in the United States, knowingly, or in reckless disregard of the fact, that the alien has come to, entered, or remained in the United States in violation of federal law. Conspiracy to be so transported shall be a violation of this subdivision. This subdivision should be interpreted consistent with 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A).

(4) It shall not be a violation of this section for a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the United States, or the agents or officers of the denomination or organization, to encourage, invite, call, allow, or enable an alien who is present in the United States to perform the vocation of a minister or missionary for the denomination or organization in the United States as a volunteer who is not compensated as an employee, notwithstanding the provision of room, board, travel, medical assistance, and other basic living expenses, provided the minister or missionary has been a member of the denomination for at least one year. This subdivision should be interpreted consistent with 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(C).

(b) Any person violating this section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for each unlawfully present alien, the illegal presence of which in the United States and the State of Alabama, he or she is facilitating or is attempting to facilitate.

(c) A person violating this section is guilty of a Class C felony when the violation involves five or more aliens, the illegal presence of which in the United States and the State of Alabama, he or she is facilitating or is attempting to facilitate.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a law enforcement agency may securely transport an alien whom the agency has received verification from the federal government pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1373(c) is unlawfully present in the United States and who is in the agency's custody to a state approved facility, to a federal facility in this state, or to any other point of transfer into federal custody that is outside the jurisdiction of the law enforcement agency. A law enforcement agency shall obtain judicial or executive authorization from the Governor before securely transporting an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States to a point of transfer that is outside this state.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, any person acting in his or her official capacity as a first responder or protective services provider may harbor, shelter, move, or transport an alien unlawfully present in the United States pursuant to state law.

(f) Any conveyance, including any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft, that has been or is being used in the commission of a violation of this section, and the gross proceeds of such a violation, shall be subject to civil forfeiture under the procedures of Section 20-2-93.

(g) In the enforcement of this section, an alien's immigration status shall be determined by verification of the alien's immigration status with the federal government pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1373(c). A law enforcement officer shall not attempt to independently make a final determination of whether an alien is lawfully present in the United States.

(h) Any record that relates to the immigration status of a person is admissible in any court of this state without further foundation or testimony from a custodian of records if the record is certified as authentic by the federal government agency that is responsible for maintaining the record. A verification of an alien's immigration status received from the federal government pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1373(c) shall constitute proof of that alien's status. A court of this state shall consider only the federal government's verification in determining whether an alien is lawfully present in the United States.

(Act 2011-535, p. 888, §13; Act 2012-491, p. 1410, §1.)