Statement from Mayor Robert Craft on Federal Immigration Investigation at the GSHS Construction Site
June 30, 2025
The City of Gulf Shores supports the efforts of Homeland Security to enforce federal immigration laws and keep our community safe. The action taken by the Homeland Security Task Force last week is part of an open investigation into private businesses under contract with the City. The City is neither a target nor involved in this investigation. Therefore, we have no access to any documents or awareness of any of the investigation's facts beyond what is publicly reported. Further, the City has not been notified by the task force nor received any information following the completion of the operation. The City will assist the federal government in any way possible if requested. Additionally, we do not expect this incident to affect the construction timeline or opening of the new Gulf Shores High School.
The City's contract with the general contractor overseeing the Gulf Shores High School construction project stipulates that the contractor must utilize the federal E-Verify program to verify employee eligibility to work in the United States. This contract language is standard on public construction projects in Alabama and is also used in all City of Gulf Shores construction contracts. The Department of Homeland Security then enforces compliance with the E-Verify program.
The City is also aware of a recent statement by a representative of Homeland Security, as reported in local news that suggests the quality of construction at the school may be in question due to the use of employees who are allegedly not in the country legally. We are unaware of any evidence to support this claim. The City has taken steps to ensure this project is subject to rigorous oversight from a multi-disciplinary team of architectural, engineering, and construction experts, including the following:
- The City hired renowned architectural and engineering firms to design the new high school. The architectural firm also monitors the project for compliance with the plans.
- The construction plans for the school were reviewed and approved by the Alabama Division of Construction Management (ADCM).
- The City hired a respected third-party engineering firm to manage the project, ensuring that the materials and inspections are conducted according to specifications. This third-party engineering firm has a continuous presence on the construction site while the site is under the control of the general contractor.
- The construction project is subject to meticulous inspection protocols, which are conducted by the ADCM. The City does not have the authority to approve any of the work on site. These inspections occur at critical milestones during and after construction to ensure all State Building Codes are adhered to, and the ADCM will not issue a Certificate of Occupancy for any portion of the new Gulf Shores High School until all required inspections have been completed and passed.