Following months of uproar and clamor from coast to coast over Alabama's new immigration law, Republican leaders on Friday indicated they are open to making changes that could allow the law to better withstand the constitutional scrutiny it has been under since going into effect in September.

The about-face came after several infamous incidents placed Alabama in the national spotlight, including the suspension of several of the law's most controversial passages by federal judges, dozens of protest marches, the arrests of two foreign auto industry executives, and the suggestion by one state senator that the law was misrepresented to the Alabama Senate when it was introduced in the final hours of the 2011 regular session.

Earlier this month, GOP leaders quietly asked Attorney General Luther Strange to study the 72-page law and offer suggestions for improving it (see related story on page 8). The Associated Press obtained a copy of Strange's private response last week and reported that Strange recommended editing or changing the wording of several sections and omitting others entirely.

Two days later Gov. Robert Bentley issued a joint statement with House Speaker Mike Hubbard and Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh declaring their “commitment to make Alabama's new immigration law the most effective in the nation.”

Bentley said the essence of the law will not change, nor will it be repealed as some Democrats and church groups have urged. However, Bentley's statement added that “state leaders pledged that revisions to the law will be offered for consideration early in the next legislative session so that the law works, it can be enforced and it reflects the hospitable nature of Alabamians.”

In the statement Bentley reiterated his belief that the law is necessary because the federal government, which has constitutional authority to handle security of the nation's borders, is not doing its job.

“Alabama needs an effective illegal immigration law because the federal government has failed in its duties to enforce the law,” Bentley said. “The Legislature responded to that need by passing a tough immigration law and I signed it.”

Last month, a state senator who represents a portion of Cherokee County admitted that the Legislature did a poor job of vetting the law before voting to pass it.

“It is no excuse but we got that bill with only four hours left in the session and we took the conference committee's word that the bill was OK,” Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) said in the Nov. 21 issue of The Post. “This bill has created undue hardship for Alabama citizens. We made a mistake.”

Dial also admitted he voted for the bill because not doing so would have made him seem weak on illegal immigration. Now, he said, the time has come make things right.

“We can use a little common sense and make some changes and still have a strong bill,” Dial said.

Last week, Alabama's governor and legislative leaders voiced their agreement with Dial's assessment.