Alabama
Migrant controversy hits heartland as Alabama council meeting boils over, state officials slam feds' 'mess'
Residents of a small Alabama city were up in arms at the migrant influx during a recent city council hearing that lawmakers suddenly cut short amid the outcry.
Meanwhile, state leaders demanded answers from the feds as the migrants appear to be in the country legally under Temporary Protective Status provisions extended to Haitian nationals by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
In Sylacauga, just south of NASCAR’s Talladega Superspeedway, City Council President Tiffany Nix abruptly curtailed public comment as residents demanded accountability for the at least 50 migrants that appeared in the city.
“We’re done,” Nix responded to resident David Phillips, who had criticized council’s attitude as “entirely unacceptable” during the meeting last week.
“[Haiti is] a failed state – their president (Jovenel Moise) was assassinated in 2021 – there is no way the State Department can vet these individuals,” Phillips said before Nix cut in as another resident called out, “Please let him talk.”
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Nix then made a motion to adjourn the meeting and ordered the gallery cleared.
“This is our city,” a woman in the gallery said. “Good to know, they don’t want to hear the truth,” another said.
Another resident wondered aloud how local schools will be able to handle the new migrants, noting that financial resources would be needed for children that only speak French-Creole and not English.
Amid the murmuring, Nix could be heard asking, “What would you like us to do?”
Earlier in the meeting, Nix said there is no reason to launch a municipal investigation and that people should not treat others “differently because of how they look.”
State Rep. Benjamin Robbins, who represents the city, wrote a letter Thursday to Mayorkas, demanding a federal response.
“As the secretary of Homeland Security, you are charged with overseeing immigration enforcement and refugee resettlement,” he wrote.
“Recently, my district has seen an influx of Haitian immigrants. You and your agency have failed in your responsibility to notify our community of the relocation of refugees, provide any information to local leaders or answer questions.”
Robbins said the situation has caused “panic and confusion” and left local leaders “helpless.” Robbins said he would demand Congress investigate if DHS does nothing.
Sylacauga Mayor Jim Heigl separately told Alabama’s 1819 News that information the migrants were in his city legally “came out from [Gov. Kay Ivey’s] office and also came from Mike Rogers’ office, [Sen.] Katie Britt’s office and [Sen. Tommy] Tuberville’s office.
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Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt/File)
Rogers, the chair of the House Armed Services Committee, called the situation in his district “yet another example of the Biden-Harris administration’s moronic immigration policy failures.”
“Those two never cease to amaze me with their total incompetence and outright antagonism toward hardworking Americans. The way to fix this is to re-elect President Trump,” Rogers said.
Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter added his biggest concern is the lack of information from the feds on the migrants already inside the state.
“We have asked repeatedly,” said Ledbetter, R-Rainsville. “Once they are here, communities like Sylacauga and Albertville are left to deal with the disaster. Our schools don’t have the ESL resources to support the immigrant children, housing these people is an issue, crime is an issue, and the federal government has offered zero support whatsoever.”
Tuberville told Fox News Digital the feds are abusing their parole authority, which he said is supposed to be used sparingly and only for humanitarian purposes.
Instead, he said the administration is using it as a tool of “mass amnesty to millions of people.”
“We have no idea who most of these people are,” Tuberville said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the city and was directed to Nix’s email but did not receive a response.
Meanwhile, in Montgomery, state Senate President Pro-Tempore Greg Reed, R-Jasper, said Monday the Biden administration has allowed millions of illegal immigrants to “pour in” and cause a crisis.
“The immigration catastrophe they have … openly incentivized is hitting home right now for Americans across the country, including right here in Alabama,” he said.
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Immigrants line up at a remote U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on Dec. 7, 2023, in Lukeville, Ariz. (John Moore/Getty Images)
“Alabama officials are prepared to use the tools at our disposal to clean up the mess and confusion their reckless policies have created,” Reed went on, adding that the crisis in Sylacauga emphasizes the importance of the presidential election.
A spokesperson for Ivey responded to a question about the mayor’s comments by saying her office has not received any facts or communications from the feds or to local officials on the matter.
“Separately though, Alabamians and Americans all over the country are rightfully concerned over the current Biden-Harris pro-illegal immigration policies. No doubt this is a contributing factor to the concerns of people in Sylacauga and other areas,” Gina Maiola said.
“People are on high alert. Gov. Ivey will continue taking action to enforce the law, doing everything in Alabama’s authority to secure the U.S. southern border and protecting our citizens from the harmful effects of illegal immigration.”
DHS did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Paul Finebaum is known for giving his opinion on pretty much any topic in college football. If a team or a coach doesn’t perform at a certain level, he will usually give a strong take.
One of the surprising games this weekend was Alabama against South Florida. While the final score ended up being 42-16, this was a 14-13 game entering the 4th quarter.
These two teams matched up last year, and it was a 3-3 game in the fourth quarter until the Crimson Tide pulled away. Last year, the college football world buried Alabama after that struggle, and the team ended up making the College Football Playoff.
Because of that performance, Finebaum said there isn’t a reason to take anything from this game being closer than the final score shows.
“I think Alabama ought to learn what we all learned a year ago,” Finebaum said on the McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning show. “Any take, any hot take, any opinion on a game vs. South Florida is completely worthless. Because we got nothing out of that last year, and while I would hear from friends Saturday night, people in panic. It turned out that the score says Alabama won it looked like a comfortable win. We all know it wasn’t, and I frankly don’t think it makes a bit of difference.”
The Crimson Tide are still just 2 games into the Kalen DeBoer era, and Finebaum thinks how Alabama erupted in the final 15 minutes is a good sign.
“I know that sounds like I’m just wiping it away, but sometimes that happens,” Finebaum said. “The fact that Alabama could win the 4th quarter in such a dominating fashion to me is good.”
The Crimson Tide will be back in action next week as they travel to take on Wisconsin. That matchup is set for FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff time slot in Week 3.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams had an abbreviated rookie season as he recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in his final game at Alabama.
His second season got off to a late start as he served an NFL-imposed suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Williams started his third season on time on Sunday night, and he was ready out of the gate.
Williams had five receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown and a 13-yard run in the Lions’ 26-20 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Rams.
“I never got a game ball,” Williams said while holding one after the victory. “Not at Bama, not a nowhere. I ain’t even going to lie, this thing right here might not leave my hands. I might sleep like this.”
Williams caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Goff as Detroit took a 17-3 lead with 10:29 left in the third quarter.
Williams recorded the first 100-yard receiving game of his career. His previous high had been 69 yards.
“Me, personally, I expected to have a big game,” Williams said. “I guess it’s just big to the world because it’s my first one. But I plan to have a lot more. I don’t plan on this being the best game of my career. I plan on this just being the start of me being me.”
Williams was among the 40 former Alabama players who got on the field on the first Sunday of the NFL’s 105th season.
Four other former Alabama players were involved in the Los Angeles-Detroit game:
· Terrion Arnold started at cornerback for the Lions. Arnold made eight tackles in his NFL debut. Arnold joined Detroit in the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25.
· Brian Branch started at safety for the Lions. Branch made seven tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up three passes.
· Rams tight end Miller Forristall is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 40 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries and caught four passes for 34 yards. Gibbs scored on a 1-yard run as Detroit took a 10-3 lead with 1:57 left in the first half.
In the other Sunday games:
Pittsburgh Steelers 18, Atlanta Falcons 10
· Steelers cornerback Anthony Averett is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Minkah Fitzpatrick started at safety for the Steelers. Fitzpatrick led Pittsburgh with seven tackles, including six solo stops.
· Najee Harris started at running back for the Steelers. Harris ran for a game-high 70 yards on 20 carries and had a 9-yard reception.
· Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
· Falcons running back Jase McClellan was designated as a game-day inactive.
Buffalo Bills 34, Arizona Cardinals 28
· Bills safety Kareem Jackson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers in on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Jonah Williams started at right offensive tackle for the Cardinals. Williams left the game in the second half with a knee injury and did not return.
· Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery) started at inside linebacker for the Cardinals. Wilson matched his career high of nine tackles, first achieved on Dec. 29, 2019, in the Cleveland Browns’ 33-23 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Wilson also had one tackle for loss and one pass breakup in his first game with Arizona. Wilson joined the Cardinals in the offseason as a free agent.
Chicago Bears 24, Tennessee Titans 17
· J.C. Latham started at left offensive tackle for the Titans in his first NFL game. Latham joined Tennessee as a first-round selection in the NFL Draft on April 25.
· Calvin Ridley started at wide receiver for the Titans. Ridley had three receptions for 50 yards in his first game for Tennessee. He joined the Titans as a free agent during the offseason.
New England Patriots 16, Cincinnati Bengals 10
· Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker was designated as a game-day inactive.
· Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is on the non-football illness list and not eligible to play. A problem with blood clots has sidelined Barmore.
· Bengals safety Jordan Battle did not record any stats.
· Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton did not record any stats in his NFL debut.
· Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville) started at outside linebacker for the Patriots. Jennings made one tackle
Houston Texans 29, Indianapolis Colts 27
· Will Anderson Jr. started at defensive end for the Texans. Anderson made two tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
· Colts defensive tackle Raekwon Davis did not record any stats in his first game with Indianapolis. Davis joined the Colts as a free agent in the offseason.
· Texans linebacker Christian Harris is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
· Ryan Kelly started at center for the Colts.
· Texans wide receiver John Metchie III was designated as a game-day inactive.
· Henry To’oTo’o started at linebacker for the Texans. To’oTo’o led Houston with seven tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up one pass.
Miami Dolphins 20, Jacksonville Jaguars 17
· Dolphins guard Lester Cotton (Central-Tuscaloosa) did not record any stats.
· Dolphins defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand made two tackles.
· Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones dressed for the game but did not play.
· Cam Robinson started at left offensive tackle for the Jaguars.
· Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
· Tua Tagovailoa started at quarterback for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa completed 23-of-37 passes for 338 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and had an 11-yard run. Tagovailoa threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill as Miami cut Jacksonville’s lead to 17-14 with 2:08 left in the third quarter.
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· Jaylen Waddle started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Waddle had five receptions for 109 yards, including a 63-yarder. He also had a 3-yard run. Waddle recorded the 11th 100-yard game of his NFL career.
New Orleans Saints 47, Carolina Panthers 10
· Saints cornerback Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley) made two tackles in his NFL debut. McKinstry joined New Orleans in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 26.
· Panthers defensive lineman LaBryan Ray (James Clemens) was designated as a game-day inactive.
· A’Shawn Robinson started at defensive end for the Panthers. Robinson reached a career high with nine tackles in his first game for Carolina. He joined the Panthers as a free agent this offseason. Robinson previously had five games with eight tackles.
· Bryce Young started at quarterback for the Panthers. Young completed 13-of-30 passes for 161 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions and ran four times for 12 yards and one touchdown. Young’s 3-yard run with 4:45 left in the third quarter was the first rushing touchdown of his career.
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Minnesota Vikings 28, New York Giants 6
· Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal dressed but did not play. Sunday’s game was the first in Neal’s career for which he was active, but he did not start. Neal missed nine games last season because of ankle injuries.
· Vikings kicker Will Reichard (Hoover) made four extra-points in his NFL debut. Reichard joined Minnesota as a sixth-round pick in the NFL Draft on April 27. He did not attempt a field goal in his first game.
· Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner made three tackles and recorded one sack in his NFL debut. Turner joined Minnesota in the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25. Turner registered his first NFL sack when he took down New York quarterback Daniel Jones for a 4-yard loss on a first-and-10 snap from the Giants 41-yard line with 14 seconds left in the first half.
Los Angeles Chargers 22, Las Vegas Raiders 10
· Bradley Bozeman (Handley) started at center for the Chargers.
· Chargers defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe was designated as a game-day inactive.
· Chargers offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Chargers punter JK Scott had a 47.4-yard average on seven punts, with a 37.7-yard net. Scott had a 28-yard punt out of bounds at the Las Vegas 21-yard line, a 51-yarder for a fair catch at the Las Vegas 32, a 52-yarder for a fair catch at the Las Vegas 9, a 55-yarder for a touchback, a 56-yarder with a 7-yard return to the Las Vegas 34, a 49-yarder for a touchback and a 41-yarder with a 21-yard return to the Las Vegas 48.
Seattle Seahawks 26, Denver Broncos 20
· Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Jarran Reed started at defensive end for the Seahawks. Reed did not record any stats.
· Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not eligible to play.
· Patrick Surtain II started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made six tackles and broke up one pass.
· Broncos cornerback Levi Wallace did not record any stats in his first game with Denver. Wallace joined Denver as a free agent in the offseason.
Dallas Cowboys 33, Cleveland Browns 17
· Browns cornerback Tony Brown is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Browns guard Javion Cohen (Central-Phenix City) was designated as a game-day inactive. Cohen made Cleveland’s roster as an undrafted rookie.
· Amari Cooper started at wide receiver for the Browns. Cooper had two receptions for 16 yards in his first game against his former team. Dallas traded Cooper to Cleveland in 2022.
· Trevon Diggs started at cornerback for the Cowboys. Diggs made five tackles, intercepted one pass and broke up another in his first game since Sept. 17, 2023. A knee injury sustained in practice caused Diggs to miss the final 15 games of the 2023 season. With 19 interceptions, Diggs is tied for ninth among Alabama’s NFL alumni with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. On Sunday, Diggs picked off Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson at the Dallas 22-yard line with 9:06 left to play.
· Jerome Ford started at running back for the Browns. Ford ran for 44 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries and caught six passes for 25 yards. Ford scored on a 2-yard run with 29 seconds to play.
· Jerry Jeudy started at wide receiver for the Browns. Jeudy had three receptions for 25 yards and one touchdown in his first game with Cleveland. Jeudy joined the Browns in an offseason trade with the Denver Broncos. He scored on a 6-yard pass from quarterback Deshaun Watson with 8:42 left in the third quarter.
· Browns tight end Cameron Latu is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Dalvin Tomlinson started at defensive tackle for the Browns. Tomlinson made three tackles and recorded one sack.
· Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. was designated as a game-day inactive. Wills is recovering from a knee injury that caused him to miss the final nine games of the 2023 season, and he has been a limited participant in practice.
Washington Commanders 37, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
· Jonathan Allen started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Allen made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.
· Buccaneers safety Marcus Banks is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Buccaneers outside linebacker Chris Braswell made one tackle in his NFL debut. Braswell joined Tampa Bay in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 26.
· Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis made one tackle.
· Daron Payne (Shades Valley) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made one tackle.
· Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) started at running back for the Commanders. Robinson ran for 40 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries and caught three passes for 49 yards. Robinson scored on a 7-yard run as Washington cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 13-7 with 7:17 left in the first half.
Week 1 started on Thursday night, when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-20. On Friday night in Brazil, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-29.
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Week 1 concludes on Monday, when the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will televise the game.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
Alabama put on a strong fourth-quarter performance to pull out the 42-16 win over South Florida on Saturday night inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Alabama football coaching staff announced its players of the week for the game against USF.
Seven different players were selected this week. For the season opener against Western Kentucky, the coaches picked eight players. There was not an “offensive skill player” for the USF game.
Offense Power Player of the Week- OL Tyler Booker
Offense Scout Player of the Week- WR Bubba Hampton
Special Teams Player of the Week- DB Bray Hubbard
Defense Skill Player of the Week- DB Malachi Moore
Defense Power Player of the Week- DL Tim Keenan III
Defense Scout Player of the Week- LB Sterling Dixon
Special Teams Scout Player of the Week- LB Noland Asberry
See also: How to Watch: No. 4 Alabama at Wisconsin; Week 3 College Football TV Schedule
Where Alabama Football Ranks After Week 2
2024 SEC Football Power Rankings: Week 2
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