MADISON, Ala. (Diya TV) — Hanu Karlapalem, the Democratic nominee for Alabama House District 4, sharply criticized U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville and his proposed ASSIMILATION Act during a public statement this week, calling the measure “an attack on legal immigrants” and a threat to birthright citizenship.
Karlapalem said the bill does not address undocumented immigration or border security. Instead, he argued it targets skilled workers, international students, and naturalized citizens who contribute to Alabama’s economy.
“Immigrants are not leeches. We never were,” Karlapalem said. “We built this country. We are still building it. And we are not going anywhere.”
The proposed ASSIMILATION Act would reduce the annual H-1B visa cap to 50,000 and eliminate Optional Practical Training, or OPT, for international graduates from U.S. universities. The bill also would raise the residency requirement for citizenship from five years to 10 years and require a higher English proficiency standard for naturalization. Karlapalem also criticized the bill’s push to end birthright citizenship, which is protected under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Tuberville recently described “mass immigration” as “a leech that is slowly bleeding this country dry” during remarks on the Senate floor. Karlapalem rejected that claim and said the senator’s comments targeted professionals working across North Alabama.
He pointed to engineers at Redstone Arsenal, researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and healthcare workers at regional hospitals as examples of immigrants who help drive the local economy. Karlapalem also referenced his wife, Vidya, a senior software engineer, as part of the skilled immigrant workforce he said strengthens Alabama communities.
Karlapalem argued that immigrants have played a major role in building American industry and innovation. He cited historical figures such as Andrew Carnegie, Albert Einstein, and Wernher von Braun, who helped shape the U.S. economy and scientific progress.
He also pointed to modern technology leaders, including Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Jensen Huang, as examples of immigrants leading major American companies. Karlapalem said the ASSIMILATION Act could discourage future scientists, engineers, and technology workers from choosing the United States.
“The engineers and scientists who built North Alabama’s economy are the same people this bill attacks,” he said.
The Democratic candidate also tied the immigration debate to broader political fights in Alabama. He criticized lawmakers over healthcare, public education funding, and voting rights issues. Karlapalem condemned Alabama Senate Bill 21, which would bar naturalized citizens from holding public office in the state. He called the proposal unconstitutional and compared it to discriminatory laws from the Jim Crow era.
He also criticized Republican lawmakers over legislation related to congressional redistricting and accused state leaders of undermining academic freedom at Alabama universities. Karlapalem specifically targeted Republican Rep. Parker Moore, accusing him of avoiding public debates and remaining silent on Tuberville’s immigration comments. Karlapalem said he challenged Moore to three debates across the district but has not received a response.
“Silence is not neutrality. Silence is complicity,” Karlapalem said.
Karlapalem is running in Alabama House District 4, which includes parts of Morgan, Limestone, and Madison counties. He urged voters to participate in upcoming elections and framed his campaign around economic issues, healthcare access, and public education.
