Riding a wave of anti-immigrant fever in Arizona, politicians there recently passed some of the most draconian anti-immigrant laws in the nation. Most of the new laws targeted employers who might hire the undocumented.
The actions by these demagogic politicians seemed to pay off in the short-run -- in terms of their popularity. But they've had another pay-off, one that should have been easily foreseen: they're wrecking Arizona's economy, which depends heavily on immigrant labor. About 11% of the Arizona workforce is estimated to be comprised of undocumented workers.
This is a story the rest of the country should follow closely as immigration "reform" continues to be a hot topic in the presidential contest. Just what would happen if the US was actually able to cast out all the undocumented workers? Economic collapse, that's what.
Arizona Seeing Signs of Flight by Immigrants (NY Times, 2/12/08)
PHOENIX — The signs of flight among Latino immigrants here are multiple: Families moving out of apartment complexes, schools reporting enrollment drops, business owners complaining about fewer clients.
The Arizona economy, heavily dependent on growth and a Latino work force, has been slowing for months. Meanwhile, the state has enacted one of the country’s toughest laws to punish employers who hire illegal immigrants, and the county sheriff here in Phoenix has been enforcing federal immigration laws by rounding up people living here illegally.
“It is very difficult to separate the economic reality in Arizona from the effects of the laws because the economy is tanking and construction is drying up,” said Frank Pierson, lead organizer of the Arizona Interfaith Network, which advocates for immigrants’ rights and other causes.
An earlier article in the Times cited the growing problem back in December, before the law even took effect on January 1, 2008. Fear is ruling the day.
. . . economists say the law could damage the economy. “If you take 12 percent of the work force away, that is going to be a problem,” said Dawn McLaren, an economist at Arizona State University, adding that people not currently working could never make up the difference. “The largest group to join the work force was during World War II, and that was a big motivator. I don’t think patriotism is going to drive this one.” (NY Times, 12/14/07]
A companion piece of legislation, this one passed by voter initiative, denied undocumented students from getting in-state tuition rates at Arizona's colleges and universities. Predictably, thousands have dropped out, either unable to afford the out-of-state tuition rate or for fear of being deported. Or both.
Reading these articles reminded me of a small exchange I had a few years back at the Tucson airport, appropriately enough. While waiting in line to board my flight, the man standing directly in front of me abruptly turned around and started in on a diatribe against the "illegals." Why he assumed I might share his racist opinions is beyond me.
He was holding a cup of coffee and a donut. I asked him, "Who served you the coffee and donut? Did you check their documents before accepting them? How much more are you willing to pay Starbucks for a grande, anyway? Do you ever go to restaurants? You're in Arizona, for crying out loud. Your economy would collapse if you actually threw out all the immigrants."
He huffed and turned his back on me again. I'd like to finish that conversation with him now.
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