Birmingham Indivisible invites the public to a timely community Town Hall on Immigration in America and Alabama—an issue shaping families, communities, and public policy across our state right now.
As immigration continues to make headlines and affect daily life in Alabama, this conversation will focus on what’s happening locally, what immigrant families are experiencing, and how our community can respond in informed, practical, and constructive ways.
The event will provide an opportunity to listen, learn, ask questions, and engage in respectful dialogue. The speakers have a wealth of information and experience in are —each working directly with immigrant communities—will share insights from the ground and help connect broader policy discussions to real-life impacts here in the Birmingham area. The format is informal, interactive, and open to all perspectives.
Speakers include:
Allison Hamilton, Executive Director of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ACIJ), a statewide organization advancing the rights and dignity of all people through policy advocacy, grassroots leadership, and community engagement. Since joining ACIJ in 2018 and becoming Executive Director in 2024, Allison has worked across immigrant justice, voting rights, racial justice, environmental justice, and economic justice. She previously served as a finance and operations consultant for small businesses and nonprofits in New York. She holds a Master’s in Public Health and a Bachelor’s in Comparative Religious Studies.
Patricia Merritt, educator and community organizer with Shut Down Etowah and a volunteer with Bham Migra Watch. With 19 years of teaching experience across K–12, higher education, and community programs, Patricia brings both classroom and community perspectives to her work. She holds advanced degrees from UAB and a Bachelor’s in Spanish from the University of Alabama. Her work centers on dignity, safety, and the fundamental right of all people to live in peace.
Shut Down Etowah is a community-led abolitionist campaign advocating for accountability and improved conditions at the Etowah County Detention Center. Bham Migra Watch documents and reports on immigration enforcement activity in the Birmingham area.
Join us for an important and timely conversation about how national issues are playing out locally—and what we, as a community, can do to better understand, engage, and respond.
*A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.*