Alabama's Hispanic population has more than doubled since 2000, faster rate of growth than any other state in America. In towns like Albertville, where thousands of immigrants from Mexico and Central America arrived seeking work in meatpacking and agriculture. Photographer Carolyn Drake chronicled daily life for Latino families in the area, who are still trying to put down roots even as the state remains ambivalent about their future.
Alabama’s Hispanic population has more than doubled since 2000, faster rate of growth than any other state in America. In towns like Albertville, where thousands of immigrants from Mexico and Central America arrived seeking work in meatpacking and agriculture, the Latino community has come into conflict at times with older residents. Concern over their presence prompted the state to pass HB 56 in 2011, the toughest anti-immigration law in the country. Photographer Carolyn Drake chronicled daily life for Latino families in the area, who are still trying to put down roots even as the state remains ambivalent about their future. For more on this story read MSNBC’s feature How America’s harshest immigration law failed by Benjy Sarlin.