Sunday, June 13, 2010
Hispanics are exiting Arizona before the state’s controversial immigration law goes into effect in July. Citing anecdotal evidence, USA Today reported that schools in Hispanic neighborhoods are experiencing unusual declines in enrollment and businesses serving Hispanics are noticing drops in clientele.
Two plus years of a weak economy had already caused many immigrants to avoid Arizona. “If you have a bad economy and a hostile environment, then that’s likely to cause people to think twice about coming, and possibly even to leave,” Jeffrey Passel, a demographer at the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington, told The Christian Science Monitor.
Those leaving Arizona to avoid the new law, which requires law enforcement to question the immigration status of people during routine traffic stops, are likely resettling in other states, such as California, Texas and New Mexico, instead of returning to their home countries.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Hispanics Abandon Arizona, Fleeing Economy, Immigration Law (by Husna Haq, Christian Science Monitor)
Hispanics Flee Arizona Ahead of Immigration Law (by Alan Gomez, USA Today)
Comments