There’s nothing that can stir debate in our state, and in our local area, quite like Alabama’s immigration law.

That law, pushed in large part by State Sen. Scott Beason (R-Gardendale) is partially in effect now with other parts stayed while federal courts sort out their legalities. It’s attracted nationwide attention — most of it unfavorable, because of parts which require schools to check the immigration status of students, and employers to verify that of workers.

Members of the Hispanic community staged a boycott last week, in which a number of businesses were shuttered for a day. In addition, some Hispanic families have held children out of schools, or withdrawn them.

And now, farmers who depend on Hispanics to work their fields at harvest time can’t find enough workers. Those workers are staying away, and others aren’t filling those positions,  despite Alabama’s high unemployment rate.

Ironically, the bill’s promoters said it was needed was that illegals were taking jobs away from others who needed them. Now that those jobs are open, no one is stepping up.

But allowing illiegal immigrants to stay is unfair and a disservice to those who did emigrate from Mexico, and elsewhere, through proper channels.

To those who oppose the law, remember that the illiegal population is a drain on society’s resources as a whole, even though most illegals work hard, and contribute tax revenue.

And to those who support the law on the basis of more jobs available for legal residents — grab some work gloves. There are jobs out there, ripe for the harvest, in more ways than one.