See other Immigration Articles
Title: Illegal immigrants packing up and leaving Arizona
Source:
CNN
URL Source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/22/immigrants.leave.ap/index.html
Published: Dec 22, 2007
Author: CNN
Post Date: 2007-12-25 14:11:41 by robin
Ping List: *The Border*
Keywords: None
Views: 156
Comments: 6
PHOENIX, Arizona (AP) -- Illegal immigrants in Arizona, frustrated with a flagging economy and tough new legislation cracking down on their employers, are returning to their home countries or trying their luck in other states. art.bus.depot.gi.jpg Border Patrol officers in Phoenix, Arizona, check a bus depot for illegal immigrants in June 2006. Click to view previous image 1 of 2 Click to view next image For months, immigrants have taken a wait-and-see attitude toward the state's new employer-sanctions law, which takes effect January 1. The voter-approved legislation is an attempt to lessen the economic incentive for illegal immigrants in Arizona, the busiest crossing point along the U.S.-Mexico border. And by all appearances, it's starting to work. "People are calling me telling me about their friend, their cousin, their neighbors -- they're moving back to Mexico," said Magdalena Schwartz, an immigrant-rights activist and pastor at a Mesa church. "They don't want to live in fear, in terror." Martin Herrera, a 40-year-old illegal immigrant and masonry worker who lives in Camp Verde, 70 miles north of Phoenix, said he is planning to return to Mexico as soon as he ties up loose ends after living here for four years. "I don't want to live here because of the new law and the oppressive environment," he said. "I'll be better in my country." He called the employer-sanctions law "absurd." "Everybody here, legally or illegally, we are part of a motor that makes this country run," Herrera said. "Once we leave, the motor is going to start to slow down." There's no way to know how many illegal immigrants are leaving Arizona, especially now with many returning home for normal holiday visits. But economists, immigration lawyers and people who work in the immigrant community agree it's happening. State Rep. Russell Pearce of Mesa, the author of the employer sanctions law, said his intent was to drive illegal immigrants out of Arizona. "I'm hoping they will self-deport," Pearce said. "They broke the law. They're criminals." Under the employer sanctions law, businesses found to have knowingly hired illegal workers will be subject to sanctions from probation to a 10-day suspension of their business licenses. A second violation would bring permanent revocation of the license. Nancy-Jo Merritt, an immigration lawyer who primarily represents employers, said her clients already have started to fire workers who can't prove they are in the country legally. Don't Miss "Workers are being fired, of course," she said. "Nobody wants to find out later on that they've got somebody working for them who's not here legally." When immigrants don't have jobs, they don't stick around, said Dawn McLaren, a research economist at Arizona State University who specializes in illegal immigration. She said the flagging economy, particularly in the construction industry, also is contributing to an immigrant exodus. "As the jobs dwindle and the environment becomes more unpleasant in more ways than one, you then decide what to do, and perhaps leaving looks like a good idea," she said. "And certainly that creates a problem, because as people leave, they take the jobs they created with them." Pearce disagreed that the Arizona economy will suffer after illegal immigrants leave, saying there will be less crime, lower taxes, less congestion, smaller classroom sizes and shorter lines in emergency rooms. "We have a free market. It'll adjust," he said. "Americans will be much better off." He said he's not surprised illegal immigrants are leaving the state and predicts that more will go once the employer-sanctions law takes effect next month. "It's attrition by enforcement," he said. "As you make this an unfriendly state for lawbreakers, I'm hoping they will pick up and leave."
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#1. To: robin (#0)
More States should follow this model. "Mexicanos Go Home!" This is OUR land. Go clean up your corrupt government and earn your own liberty - then we can remain friends and good neighbors.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
Well, there's obviously not going to be any real help coming from the Feds, not as long as perpetually gullible FReeper-types are allowed to vote, so we're going to have to fight this invasion at a state and local level. Looks like it may be starting to have some impact, but what happens to all these anti-illegal laws if the national gov't makes all the illegals legal? I know they've been stopped once before but they haven't given up. Bush and the other REAL White supremacists, the ones who want a semi-enslaved non-White work force, aren't going to stop until they shove this down our throats.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BWS - Bush Worship Syndrome; a mental disorder that causes Iraq had WMDs and Saddam did 9/11 troofers to worship Bush no matter how much damage he does to conservatism, to the GOP, to the English language, or to the country. Rush "the doper" Limbaugh and Sean "the dope" Hannity are two examples of extreme cases.
I read about this a few days ago in Arizona Republic. The economy here is bad just as I imagine it is in many places. There are many signs of a bad economy, but the unemployment rate for the state is still at 4.1% - that is the biggest lie I've ever seen. believe me, lots of people don't have jobs who want them.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
You guys are really gullible. First off, this could have been done 20 years ago..... it wasn't; with already existing laws. It is being done now. Why? Because there is no longer any work.... for legals or illegals. If you do not understand, I suggest you study up on depressed construction; specifically, depressed house construction. Secondly, if you go back to when the 'illegal invasion from Mèxico' started, you will find a close correlation between a big upswing in home construction, the beginning of low interest rates, and dropping barriers to illegals entering the US. Course, then you should study who controls the interest rates, and who was behind the invasion of illegals to begin with; same people. Robin, would you care to answer that one, please?
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest.
Glad to hear this, good-bye, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My father was a general contractor until he retired and I built houses from 12 to 21. Don't need them in construction, don't want them, and most especially don't trust their work.
Fortune favors the prepared mind. A zombie, however, prefers it raw.
Ditto.
#2. To: robin (#0)
#3. To: robin (#0)
#4. To: Original_Intent, Red Jones, rich, robin (#1)
More States should follow this model.
#5. To: robin (#0)
#6. To: YertleTurtle (#5)
Don't need them in construction, don't want them, and most especially don't trust their work.
My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places. -- Winnie the Pooh
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