Frustrated Immigrants Ditching Arizona

Illegal Immigrants Head Home Or To Other States In Face Of Tough New Law And Fewer Jobs

(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.

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."

[closethippy1]

I like to ask all the anti-immigration geniuses here what the f are you going to do when the agriculture business in about 10 years from now are going to require at least 2 million extra people to help pick their produce?
Excuse me, but what did you just mumble? Create a guest worker program?
Exactly, that''s what I thought you said.
Be it now or in 10 years it''s going to happen, so what the f'' are you ******** about, eh?

In the meantime go ahead and help yourselves to deport all 12 million "illegal" immigrants in the US. Let every city have a caravan of buses carrying these "illegals" just like we had them when we hauled all them Japanese during the early 1940''s.
Go ahead and exclude 12 million people from our economy and watch the nastiest economic recession in our history happen in front of our very own eyes.
Then go ahead and drink your freaking Jack Daniels to celebrate your "victory", you shortsighted nincompoops.

[michellem99-2009]

Gramma I learnt this in school we the people means American citizens..YEP. I had to get my ID card in AZ when I lived there and I was appalled a male placed that ward where I did not want it to be in frront of my male friend. I was pissed but had to bear it. Years ago I would have told him to shove up well you know..I BET HE WAS NOT A CITIZEN.

[michellem99-2009]

Gramma,Merry Christmas..I

[i1marine69]

Three Cheers for Arizona!!!
One down 49 to go. When will the rest of our States and Nation wake up?

[grammawhamma]

once again Americans blaming the victem.
posted by joe2457

Excuse me??? The "victim" you speak of happens to be illegal thus a law breaker. A criminal is not a victim!!

[joe5427]

But bussinesses are also to blame, they hire them. once again Americans blaming the victem.. There is a rat in this whole story. The unmentioned one always..The major one that makes all of the money and benifits the most is never held accountable. They hired these people, they messed it up for American Workers not the Mexicans.

[valentin73]

WHY ARE SO MANY ILLEGALS STILL IN THIS COUNTRY?????
THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD IT THIS EASY.
THIS SHOULD BE A FEDERAL LAW, NOT ARIZONA.
ILLEGALS AND RECENT LEGALS HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH WHAT MY ANCESTORS WENT THROUGH IN THE FORTIES AND FIFTIES.
MY GRANDPARENTS ON EITHER SIDE, ALL IMMIGRATED FROM MEXICO IN THE EARLY PART OF LAST CENTURY, FROM 1900 TO 1910.
THEY IMMIGRATED LEGALLY, BUT THEN PAID DEARLY TO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.
YOU ILLEGALS AND RECENT LEGALS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT''S LIKE TO BE TOLD "SPEAK ENGLISH!"
OR "NO MEXICANS ALLOWED!" AS SOME ARIZONA RESTAURANTS POSTED SIGNS BY THEIR ENTRANCES IN THE FORTIES AND FIFTIES.

ME MESSAGE TO ILLEGALS, GO BACK , STAY OUT OR BE DEPORTED. SIMPLY PUT: YOU DON''T BELONG IN THIS COUNTRY. I COULD CARE LESS IF YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR ECONOMY. AMERICANS CONTRIBUTE MORE TO YOUR ECONOMY OF MEXICO VIA TOURISM, GOVERNMENT GRANTS, AND OTHER MEANS.
THERE ARE ENOUGH AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY TO "MAKE THIS MOTOR RUN, FULL SPEED AHEAD" WE DO NOT NEED YOUR SERVICES.

[slim1h2o]

Just because you don''''t want massive illegal immigrants entering the country DOESN''''T make a person a racist.

Posted by erasmus6 at 12:14 PM : Dec 24, 2007

Exactly! But he doesn''t see it that way.
+

[slim1h2o]

Would that be Mark Lindsay from Paul Revere and the Raiders??? I love him!!!:)

Posted by erasmus6 at 12:17 PM : Dec 24, 2007

Yup, Merry Cristmas and Happy New Year! Hopefully!

[erasmus6]

"Nobody does "Arizona" quite like Mark Lindsay!" posted by MotherHen11

Would that be Mark Lindsay from Paul Revere and the Raiders??? I love him!!!:)

[erasmus6]

"...but he keeps calling people, like me, racists, and other such blather." posted by slim1h2o


Just because you don''t want massive illegal immigrants entering the country DOESN''T make a person a racist.

[wheezel3]

W00t AZ! They lead where the other 49 need to follow -- no bilingualism in schools, and now finally enforcing the law. Illegals are just that -- illegal. They will leave and Arizona''s economy will BOOM big-time and the best of the best will POUR into the state to GET AWAY from the brown tide that is threatening to drown all real U.S. citizens black and white.

[klingon69]

As a person who immigrated LEGALLY from Mexico(and proudly became a U.S. citizen), it frustrates me to see how illegal aliens are demanding to obtain legal status in exchange for nothing.
Posted by mcorrea5684 at 06:54 AM : Dec 24, 2007
Welcome, and Feliz Navidad

[kattyclayz]

I''m from Texas, and being a Border State, the number of Illegal Immigrants is overwhelming. After such a brave and bold move by Arizona, I wrote my State Senator and asked if Texas could do such a thing as well. I suggest anyone reading this article should go to their Senator''s website and email him/her about it as well.
Merry Christmas all, and to people like mcorrea5684 I applaud you for taking all of your time and efforts in going through immigration to become a US citizen. Thank you

[slim1h2o]

Illegal aliens, if you really want to do things the right way, go back to your countries of origin and get a visa. Otherwise, stay out.

Posted by mcorrea5684 at 06:54 AM : Dec 24, 2007

You''re absolutely right! I''ve been telling people like Rudy who posts on here that same message, but he keeps calling people, like me, racists, and other such blather.

I don''t think he''ll ever figure it out, Illegals hurt the honest, hard working LEGAL Immigrant. Thanks for doing it the right way,, and Welcome!

[motherhen11]

Nobody does "Arizona" quite like Mark Lindsay!

[mcorrea5684]

I take serious offense to the statements from pro-illegal immigrant groups trying to obtain benefits for them.

Why? Because they give to those who immigrated LEGALLY into the U.S a bad name and reputation.

As a person who immigrated LEGALLY from Mexico(and proudly became a U.S. citizen), it frustrates me to see how illegal aliens are demanding to obtain legal status in exchange for nothing. Why should the U.S. reward illegal aliens when there are so many LEGAL immigrants like myself that have had to go through so much to make their American dream come true through LEGAL means?

On the contrary, Arizona (just like many other states) has the right to take action. Illegal aliens should not be rewarded; they should be arrested and immediately deported.

Illegal aliens, if you really want to do things the right way, go back to your countries of origin and get a visa. Otherwise, stay out.

[dylanxxv]

Awwwww...Poor illegals aren''t welcome in Arizona...WELL! GUESS WHAT YOU BUNCH OF CRIMINALS...Your NOT wanted in any state until you can come in legally, instead of sneaking across the border like a bunch of coyotes...

[pqqamazon]

...and it won''t be long before legal Americans start leaving Arizona''s flagging economy too.

[radiob-2009]

Not anymore eh? Or have I missed something?






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Posted by Stezzer at 07:50 PM

There is a defining line between legal immigrants and illegal immigrants. When Mexico is the 15 fastest growing economy of the world (thanks to the US corporations and Mexico''s own oligarchs) and yet continues to pay it''s workers on average $3.00 a day it is no wonder that they come here. Mexico needs to fix its own economy and democracy at it''s own expense not ours. Unfortunately we have encouraged this through NAFTA without any teeth along with all of the other so called "free" trade agreements.