Arizona crackdown driving out illegal immigrants

Associated Press ^ | AMANDA LEE MYERS

[Dubya]

PHOENIX — 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.

For months, immigrants have taken a wait-and-see attitude toward the state's new employer-sanctions law, which takes effect Jan. 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 holidays 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.

"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."

[Lancey Howard]

or trying their luck in other states.

They should try California.

[californio]

I’m saying business could be driven out of state. I’m not saying it’s going to happen. I’m just saying it is one of the possibilities. The other issue is that Illegals don’t have a legal stance from which to defend their position. Big business, however, is going to fight this tooth and nail. They’re the ones that pump lobbying money into our politicians. I couldn’t help but notice that almost all the conservative candidates seem a bit squeamish on immigration.

[Haddit]

I am surprised my Mexican mayor here in Los Angeles has not publicly invited them yet. Mexicans from Arizona could take all the jobs the Mexicans from L.A. won’t do.

[SHEENA26]

BTW, sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona joined Mitt Romney’s team back in February.

[Paul Ross]

BUMP FOR Rep. Pearce!

"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."

Pearce, Hunter, Tancredo etc are all vindicated in spades here. But the corrupt open border lobby, such as John McCain and President Bush...and their liberal RAT accomplices... will never admit they were wrong or that the hysteria and febrile arguments they made were KNOWINGLY WRONG.

The American people of course already know that they won't be hearing any apologies from these charlatans.

They know why these corrupteds were so keen to immediately confer legal status on the law-breaking aliens.

And the people want their country back.

[iopscusa]

You’re right about addressing any and all unemployed or underemloyed citizens especially including any that receive any FREE (taxpayer subsidized) benefits.

[Chode]

He called the employer-sanctions law "absurd."

but it made HIS azz move back down mexco way didn't it... 8^)

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

Speaking of illegal immigration:
http://www.qando.net/details.aspx?Entry=6193

Arizona is one of the states where the housing bubble has been a major factor driving residential over-building. There has been a cushion in the loss of construction jobs, now that the bubble is burst, because so many of the laid off construction workers were illegal aliens. If there is indeed a mass exodus of illegals from AZ, however, this will further depress the demand for housing services, which will make the downturn more severe, and longer lasting.

The upside to this, of course (unless you happen to be an owner-occupant resident of AZ), is that housing will be cheaper for new-comers.

[Paul Ross]

I'm saying business could be driven out of state.

Echoing the position of the illegal in the article.

Before acceding to the merit of that argument, we need to remember we can always let people in LEGALLY.

And How many times have we had to listen to the lame assertions of the open border lobby saying that this was "impossible."...ignoring that it was already doable as...Mexico proved. Or that the consequences would be too catastrophic for business. Look at Bush with his bogus "willing worker and willing employer, for work Americans don't want to do" insult to the U.S. citizens.

As for the "motor running down argument", frankly, I am not going to listen to the economics argument of a criminal. First they don't care particularly about our welfare. Their self interest is paramount. Second, their mutuality argument is rather suspect, since they probably have no understanding of what their depressing low-end and trade wages has done negatively to our lower middle class and the economy...with their penchant for shipping vast sums to Mexico....which then orders consumer goods from China...not the U.S.

They need to go home and fix their OWN motor. Mexico should not be looking to the US for a safety valve. They need to set their own house in order. Which means opportunity needs to be there for their lower class. No more games. No more corruption.

And ditto here. As you recognized here:

Big business, however, is going to fight this tooth and nail. They’re the ones that pump lobbying money into our politicians.

We do need to clean house here. Once the corrupted border enforcement is taken care of...the free market will fix things. Despite McCain and Bush screaming "it's impossible"....

As part of that cleaning house...your observation here needs a major caveat:

I couldn’t help but notice that almost all the conservative candidates seem a bit squeamish on immigration.

Almost is not all. Not Tancredo, and not the best candidate of the lot:

[manic4organic]

"Of course, Bill O’Reilly tells us we can’t send them home..."

As does Michael Medved."

[muir_redwoods]

via con Dios

[DoughtyOne]

I remain astounded that folks actually seem to buy into the concept that our nation was some third-world wanna be back around 1990, when this immigration free-for-all was initiated.

Our trade and immigration policies that saw this nation progress to one second to none, have been gutted for what seems to me to have been no appearant reason other than greed to be persued on the backs of our fellow men.

[Argus]

"And certainly that creates a problem, because as people leave, they take the jobs they created with them."

The illegal aliens created the jobs? And now they're taking the jobs they created back to Mexico with them? So then they'll be able to do those jobs IN MEXICO? So why come here in the first place?

This woman "economist" sounds like an idiot.

[Doogle]

Does each state have to do this...one by one?

...no but each state has a politician that needs to take credit. ....doing something that everyone else was wondering what took so long

[ASA Vet]

Haven't any of those "can't" weenies ever heard of a trebuchet?

One free flight home can cheaply be provided to each criminal invader.
It's the humane thing to do.

[Melinda]

Believe it or not, we are even seeing a difference here! No longer are we the only ones speaking English at the mall, and we can understand the takeout attendent at the Dunkin’ Donuts drive-through, and they us. They now speak English without an accent, and the order is finally filled correctly. This has been noticeable since summer’s end. My husband refused to rent a property to two who could not show legal papers. They are getting the message, as are the employers.

[Doogle]

When immigrants don't have jobs, they don't stick around

..jeeezz, hey look...we're all college professors

[JohnD9207]

Agreed but if the Free States of Republican America pass these WONDERFUL LAWS then the illegals will either go home or concentrate in Democratic Peoples Republic states and they can take care of the problem any darn way they want to!

Wanna bet the Rat politicians in those states will get tired of the illegal e.g. undocumented folks real soon. Arnold can’t afford to pay the bills in Kalifornia now. Bring em on.

[Fresh Wind]

"Once we leave, the motor is going to start to slow down."

That's not the way motors work. Overload them and they slow down, stall, or burn out. Get rid of the overload, and they run just fine.

[libs_kma]

"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."

I call Bravo Sierra. Let them leave, and the hole will be filled with legal immigrants. If we have to allow more in, at least we can weed out the scum of the earth that swims the river today.