Hispanics flee Arizona ahead of immigration law

By Alan Gomez, USA TODAY
Arizona's tough new immigration enforcement law is fueling an exodus of Hispanics from the state seven weeks before it goes into effect, according to officials and residents in the state.
Though no one has precise figures, reports from school officials, businesses and individuals indicate worried Hispanics — both legal and illegal — are leaving the state in anticipation of the law, which will go into effect July 29.

Schools in Hispanic areas report unusual drops in enrollment. The Balsz Elementary School District is 75% Hispanic, and within a month of the law's passage, the parents of 70 students pulled them out of school, said District Superintendent Jeffrey Smith. The district lost seven students over the same one-month period last year, and parents tell Smith the Arizona law is the reason for leaving.
"They're leaving to another state where they feel more welcome," he said.

The measure, signed into law April 23 by Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, requires a police officer to determine a person's immigration status if they are stopped, detained or arrested and there is "reasonable suspicion" they are in the country illegally.

About 100,000 illegal immigrants left Arizona after the state passed a law in 2007 that enhanced penalties on businesses that hired them, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Some early signs suggest another exodus.

Businesses serving the Hispanic community say business is down, signaling that illegal immigrants are holding on to cash in anticipation of a move from the state, said David Castillo, co-founder of the Latin Association of Arizona, a chamber of commerce for nearly 400 first-generation Hispanic business owners.

"(Brewer) signed the law, and everything fell apart," Castillo said. "It's devastating."

Jorge Vargas plans to move to New York City because his air-conditioning business relies mostly on Hispanics. "My business is completely dead," he said.

Juan Carlos Cruz, an illegal immigrant who has worked in plant nurseries for 20 years, huddled with dozens of relatives over the Memorial Day Weekend in the backyard of his brother's Phoenix-area home to plot out the family's next move to avoid what they say will be harassment by police. Virginia and California are the front-runners.

"If I were alone, I'd try to stay. But I have a family, and I have to find a place where we can live with more freedom," said Cruz, who hopes to move July 4 to blend in with holiday weekend traffic. "This is getting too hard."

Paul Senseman, a spokesman for Brewer, said it's difficult to gauge how many people are leaving because of the law, but he said he hears similar reports of people leaving the state.

"If that means that fewer people are breaking the law, that is absolutely an accomplishment," he said.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...igration_N.htm

Hopefully the economy of Arizona will go into a permanent depression because of this law. If might make people in Arizona realize undocumented people make a greater contribution to society than the xenophobic right is willing to recognize.

I couldn't agree with you more jelly bean

aren't they proving sb1070 right?

I don't think people leaving AZ will put AZ to permanent depression though. There are still lots of people with papers who would fill their workspace. Maybe people will move in from other states to get a job in AZ. Don't forget, USA is in recession. Many surrounding states are in troubles. Brewer's administration is targeting Hispanics and it seem to work. If it would target Tea Baggers, there would've been way more resonance. Or strip AZ off their guns rights. That would've impeach the governor I'm sure. I don't know what can be done to really hurt AZ for enacting sb1070. White people are for sb1070, Hispanics are leaving, state administration is mostly white so they are for sb1070, other states don't really care and some are thinking of similar laws. Damn. We do need CIR to be done with immigration once and for all.

yeah its true I know many people from work, relatives, and friends who have already left due to this law. We will soon move too, in about a week or two my dad and I will drive to New Mexico and check the state out and see if we get a job. If we get a job in that week that we are going to be there we will stay there than come back for my mom and brothers, stuff is getting to hard around here, i see less hispanics around here now. The malls used to be packed with Hispanics now the parking lots seem empty. Oh and joe arpaio did a raid at a store here at AZ mills at a store named Burlington only arrested three people, I quickly went to go pick up my girlfriend, her mom, and aunt because they were in that store. Sheriffs only got the workers not the customers and on my way out of the malls parking lot, I see him damn Joe Arpaio being interviewed by fox 10, We saw him from far away. I felt some kind of anger inside me and everything seemed in slow motion for some reason

The whole economy depression for AZ is possible. I read it somewhere before that CT (connecticut) had passed an immigration law that falls along the same line, and their economy was badly dented because most Hispanic residents started moving out of the state that in the end, they were forced to overturn the law themselves.

If anyone has any info on the CT law....or know what I'm talking about....can someone post a link? I can't find where I read it from. Just came across it randomly when I was reading about sb1070.

Even though this is true that if people need jobs they'll take the legal jobs in AZ, what jobs will AZ have if even the latino business owners are leaving? I think this will not help AZ bc 1st they have less people this means less jobs for teachers, less tax rev, less money from hispanics going into the economy, the prices of housing going even lower, less people in agricultural jobs (i don't think Joe the plumber will take a job in this sector).

Lol didn't you hear "Joe the Plumber" is now a politician... lol what a tool. I do agree with you, an American (who has other options) will never get a job earning minimum wage picking vegetables in temperatures of more than 115 degrees. Arizona is such a disappointment.

I live in CT and thought I'm not aware of any law similar to AZ, connecticut has had its share of controversy. A few years ago, a city in CT tried to ban people playing volleyball in thier backyard in large groups. The law was targetted at illegal immigrants because it was perceived that many hispanic illegal immigrants gathered to play volleyball on the weekends. A couple of years ago, Danbury, CT tried to deputize police officers to become ICE agents. The measure failed because there was a very large oppostion to it. I'll try to find the link and post it.