The grim reality of life under Alabama's brutal immigration law

fear of arrest, the families destroyed - Hispanics in Alabama are trapped in a single half-life laws to punish immigrants

. In pictures: Alabama Hispanics await immigration bill failure

Isobel Gomez apartment on the outskirts of Birmingham, Alabama, crouch down like a war bunker. There are cases of bottled water, rice, beans and tortillas stacked against the wall of the room - enough to last his family for five days. The curtains are drawn and the lights on, even if it is late.

past two weeks, this small space was prison cell Gomez. She was locked up here, turn off the natural light and almost all contact with the outside world since September 28 when a judge upheld the new law gave Alabama the distinction of having the powers of the most draconian immigration In the United States.

Gomez (the name is not real, at his request) used to be a very sociable, taking their daughters to school, visiting his mother near, shopping every day. Now leave the apartment once a week to fill in the boxes of items essential to the local store.

The day after the new law was upheld, Gomez saw three police cars circling the housing complex, which is occupied almost entirely Hispanic. It was rumored that the police asked the men standing in the street to go inside their homes or arrested.

She took the word of the letter, and since then has barely set foot outside. She does not drive your car without using the sidewalk. Under the new law, the police to check immigration papers of anyone "suspected" to stop for a routine traffic offense -. A brake light is lacking, perhaps, or parking in the wrong location

"If they see me, think I'm suspicious and then I will stop indefinitely," said Gomez.

why the police think it was suspicious? "They will see the color of my skin."

Gomez is one of thousands of Hispanic families in Alabama, taken as a kind of half-life, waiting to see what will happen in court with the new law, HB56. Both the Department of Justice U. S. and a coalition of local groups are difficult to repression in the circuit 11 of the Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia. The court must decide whether to allow the new law stand or block awaiting trial for the Court to U. S. Supreme. Their decision is expected later this week

hard rules

While the judges deliberate, extremely difficult in Alabama the new provisions in force. In addition to checking the police "suspicious" of people who do not meet the immigration papers is now regarded as committing a criminal act.

illegal immigrants is also forbidden to enter into a transaction with the State, which led to some local residents to demand production of documents or the risk of losing their water supply. Schools were asked to check the immigration status of new students as young as four.

Even families the legal right to be in the country are captured. Kenite Gonzalez was surprised a few weeks ago, when his six-year-old daughter came home from school with a copy. He gave details of the HB56 and its implications with the title "Frequently asked questions about immigration."

Gonzalez is a permanent resident of the United States from Mexico over 20 years. His daughter is a U.S. citizen, born in Alabama. Both are perfectly legal. However, it was one of the two children in her class - Hispanics in appearance - they had the impression of

Why

noted, Gonzalez asked the Deputy Director. "Because it gave the impression that he thought the children were not there," was the reply.

Gonzalez is a taxi driver. Shortly after the law came into force, began to receive calls from Hispanic families. "People began to ask about prices. What does it cost to go to Indiana? How New York? Or Atlanta or Texas, or Texas or North Carolina? "

Around 2:00 one night, was awakened by a woman who asked him to choose her and her immediate family and to North Carolina.

was brought to his apartment where he met with both parents, three children and a small number of bags waiting for him. "Can you hurry, we are very scared," she said. "The police took my husband on the way to work and then leave us."

• took eight hours to North Carolina. The kids slept the whole trip, the father sat in silence. The mother cried all the way
• "It was devastating," says Gonzalez. "I knew things were bad, but what really showed me that something was going on. Families are destroyed. "

"They see us as servants'

outside the offices of Hispanic Coalition for the benefit of Alabama HICA, about 30 people - including several young children - are sitting around waiting for legal advice. A listening room has been set at the rear of the building to accommodate families who arrive throughout the day.
in a consultation room, a case manager develops a power of attorney letter for a couple who are afraid of being arrested and deported at any time. The legal document - one of hundreds made by parents in the state - states what should happen to her eight-year-old daughter when they both suddenly disappear.