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Migrant controversy hits heartland as Alabama council meeting boils over, state officials slam feds' 'mess'

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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.

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“[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.”

MIGRANT CRISIS ROILS BOSTON AREA AS SCHOOL STANDS FIRM ON RESIDENCY POLICY

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.

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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.”

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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.

BIDEN’S LATEST BORDER ORDER MAY EMBOLDEN MIGRANTS TO FLOUT IMMIGRATION LAWS, COMMIT MARRIAGE FRAUD CRITICS SAY

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.”

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“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.”

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“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.”

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DHS did not respond to a request for comment for this story. 



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Funeral set for Alabama firefighter killed in Colorado wildfire (my favorite)

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Funeral set for Alabama firefighter killed in Colorado wildfire (my favorite)


Funeral arrangements have been announced for an Alabama wildland firefighter who was killed while battling a wildfire in western Colorado.

Sydney Watson, 27, of Warrior, Alabama, died June 27 while assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service’s Rifle Helitack crew. She was one of three firefighters killed during a burnover event while conducting initial attack operations on the Knowles Fire near the Colorado-Utah border.

Watson’s family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, at Highpoint Community Church, 185 Morris-Cobb Road in Empire. A celebration of life service will begin at 6 p.m.

Fire departments from across the region are expected to honor Watson with an apparatus detail before the service. Participating fire apparatus will stage at the church between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. There will be no procession following the celebration of life, and all participating vehicles are asked to be in place before 4 p.m.

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In lieu of flowers, Watson’s family asks that memorial donations be made to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation or the National Park Foundation in her memory.

Watson was among three wildland firefighters killed while responding to the Knowles Fire on June 27. Federal officials said she and her crew were conducting initial attack operations when they were caught in a fatal burnover. Two other firefighters were injured and continue to recover.

The other firefighters who died were identified as Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan, and Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona.

Following the incident, the Knowles Fire merged with several other fires to become the larger Snyder Fire along the Colorado-Utah border.

A serious accident investigation remains underway to determine what led to the deadly burnover.

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U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy previously said the firefighters “embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service” and made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting others.



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5-Star OL commits to Texas over Alabama and others

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5-Star OL commits to Texas over Alabama and others




Ismael Camara has announced a verbal commitment to the Texas Longhorns.

Camara is an extremely talented 2027 five-star offensive lineman prospect, and he currently attends Gilmer High School in Texas. His decision leaves the Tide with one offensive lineman commit in Stafford Willis.

The Longhorns beat out Alabama, LSU, Oregon, SMU, Texas A&M and others to snag a commitment from Camara. The Crimson Tide hosted Camara during the spring, and Alabama’s offensive line coach Adrian Klemm once had the Tide trending with Camara.

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“Coach Klemm has three Super Bowl rings as a player and has coached at the highest levels,” Camara said while previously discussing Klemm. “He is someone I look up to because he has been where I want to go. He runs his offensive line room like an NFL offensive line room because that is what he knows and where he is from. I think the best way to sum up our relationship is respect.”

It is likely Alabama will end this cycle with only one offensive lineman commit in what is expected to be a small class.







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Thousands attend Alabama concert at West Virginia America 250 celebration – WV MetroNews

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Thousands attend Alabama concert at West Virginia America 250 celebration – WV MetroNews


Photo: 96.1 KWS host Robb Reel

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –An estimated 30,000 fans packed the State Capitol grounds Friday night for a concert by country band Alabama, according to officials.

The band, known for hits such as “Mountain Music,” “Dixieland Delight” and “Song of the South,” headlined West Virginia’s America250 celebration.

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The band formed in Fort Payne, Alabama, in 1969 when Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry were joined by another cousin, Jeff Cook.

Earlier in the evening, West Virginia native Philip Bowen opened for Alabama.

The celebration continues through Sunday.

A full schedule can be found at wvtourism.com/america250.

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