The letter, dated May 1, was released Thursday — hours after six protesters had a sit-down demonstration against the law near the Alabama Senate Chamber.
"During the weeks after Section 28 (of the law) went into effect, absences by Hispanic students receiving ELL (English language learner) services rose significantly, with the result that hundreds of students failed to receive the educational services to which they are legally entitled," says the letter, dated May 1 and written by Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas Perez to state school Superintendent Tommy Bice.
The letter focuses on the section of the law, known as House Bill 56, that requires school districts to collect information on immigration status from students at the time of enrollment. The law does not ban undocumented aliens from attending school, a right upheld by the Supreme Court in 1982's Plyler v. Doe.
