Alabama churches lose Hispanic parishoners

A few weeks ago, we posted about changes in Alabama’s immigration policies. In the weeks and months following those changes, Alabama residents are starting to see their consequences in their churches, neighborhoods, and social groups.

An LA Times article titled “In Alabama, a church sees its Latino brethren vanish” describes some impacts of the changing policies.For years, the congregation of one Alabama church has been comprised primarily of conservative whites and Hispanic immigrants. The church seeks to meet the needs of both groups, including a Hispanic mission service and both English and Spanish-speaking services. Since the new laws went into effect, many Alabama citizens have seen the numbers of their fellow parishioners decreasing, as many Hispanics are leaving the state.

The LA Times article illustrates the welcoming nature of many Alabama residents, who disagree with the new policies. One white church member states that “The law…was mean-spirited, an attempt to score political points.” Other parishioners also express displeasure, another man stating that, “I’d hate for them to go back to what they came from…All
of them are good workers, and not working jobs that white people would
take.”

Click here to read the full story, including photos by Don Bartletti, photojournalist of Enrique’s Journey.