I find this story suspect. First, I wonder how likely it is that reporters have good contacts for illegal immigrants in their rolodex . . . second, I think it more likely that these workers would just try another state rather than return to Mexico.
But something definitely smells about this story.

[www.cbsnews.com]

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

PHOENIX, Dec. 22, 2007

(CBS) 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."

© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Oh well. See ya on the other side.

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.

Wow, they should have a big party after the last illegal leaves the state. That's some awesome improvements, you betcha.

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I'll wait to see how it actually unfolds and would like a closer look at the details of the lews they enacted. I've argued this point before, that is to say employers should be held responsible for the surge in illegal immigration.

There are alrerdy laws on the books almost everywhere, laws prohibiting the hiring of illegals. They seldom had teeth nor were they enforced. Now that Arizona has performed a dental transplant enfocement will be interesting to watch.

The power to enforce the law now falls to local cops and DAs. I'd be surprised if we find them vigourous.

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"Who's more foolish - the fool or the fool that follows him?" - Obi Wan Kenobi

I'm seeing a lot of California-licensed cars, trucks and vans heading through Tucson toward
Mexico. They are all over loaded and some are traveling with others as though in a small
convoy. Some pull trailers which are also usually over loaded. We've always seen a lot of
Mexicans and families headed for the border at Christmas time but this year they seem to be
different and either really taking a lot of presents or moving back home.

I'm sure nothing scares illegal immigrants more than becoming more illegal.

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Quote
$tevie
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.

Wow, they should have a big party after the last illegal leaves the state. That's some awesome improvements, you betcha.

Actually, it really shouldn't be too surprising that those things would occur if in fact they are leaving in large numbers. Not sure I see the lowering of taxes as it's just not in the nature of government. Really, remove any decent sized segment of the population from an area and all of those things he mentioned would probably be likely.

A couple of selected comments. This is what is called a "hot button" topic. Driven more by emotion than logic. Representative of how we, as a nation, address issues that involve people's lives and our economy. It's as if we can never soberly work through problems in the collective.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

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 bitching 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.

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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.

It's going to get much more expensive to be a vegetarian.

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The Iranian mullahs don't like this at all.

My only wish is that Apple (as well as some other companies in other sectors) would hire a bunch of illegal immigrants so that the price of their products would be kept artificially low for me to buy.

Quote
(vikm)
My only wish is that Apple (as well as some other companies in other sectors) would hire a bunch of illegal immigrants so that the price of their products would be kept artificially low for me to buy.

Sounds good to me.

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