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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- The U.S. Justice Department is asking every school district in Alabama to hand over enrollment information about all their students as part of its lawsuit against Alabama's immigration law.
The department sent letters to all school systems Monday telling them to provide the lists, including the names of students who have withdrawn from school and the date they withdrew. The Justice Department says it's concerned that Alabama's tough new immigration law may chill student participation.
Federal courts have put on hold a portion of Alabama's law that requires schools to report the number, but not the names, of students whose immigration status is in question.
State education spokesman Michael Sibley said he's not aware of the Justice Department ever seeking all students' names before in Alabama.
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