New Ariz. Law Pressures Migrants to Move

[RamboLiberal]

PHOENIX (AP) — Parents are pulling students out of school. Construction workers are abandoning their jobs. Families are hastily moving out of apartments.

Two months after Arizona enacted a law punishing employers who hire illegal immigrants, the law is already achieving one of its goals: Scores of immigrants are fleeing to other states or back to their Latin American homelands.

The Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano approved the law last summer out of frustration with federal efforts to curb illegal immigration. It took effect Jan. 1.

The law suspends or revokes the business licenses of violators and was intended to reduce the economic incentive for immigrants to sneak across the border. Illegal immigrants account for an estimated one in 10 workers in Arizona, which is the nation's busiest gateway for illegal immigration.

Business groups have challenged the law. While awaiting a ruling, prosecutors agreed to hold off bringing cases to court until at least March 1.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gZmyEEd3e3Rk-2uUGuiotxUgLdTAD8V45M3G0

IMHO this is the best way to stop illegal immigration. Go after the employers. But the sad thing is this has to happen at the state level because the Feds have only selectively enforced the law and have only in the past year or so begun to crackdown because it has become such an issue with Repub base.

Of course I think it should be integrated with wage laws, granting of work visas if business proves they cannot get American labor for the jobs, and also making sure a spouse and children can legally accompany the work visa holder and for that spouse to also get a work visa to work.

[sandnsea]

1. What difference will work visas make?

How will they deal with the so-called problems illegal immigrants bring, like low income people needing schools, health care, etc.

[Demobrat]

2. "Business groups have challenged the law."

On what grounds, I wonder? That they should be allowed to break the law with impunity - because it's good for business? Heaven forbid they should lose their bottomless well of slave labor - they might have to actually follow the labor laws.

[liberal_rxstudent]

3. Well...

Not that I am for exploiting people- b/c I am not. Illegal immigrants do many jobs that others either would not do for ANY amount of pay (i.e pick fruit, assembly jobs in factories, clean, etc.)or would not do for such low wages. Now, if we consider the economical implications of every single employer being forced to pay higher (yes, fairer) wages (and employ legal workers) we would first have to be willing to accept the very high costs that comes along with it (for one,higher food prices--as if they are not high enough) and then, considering what to do with all of the illegals. Do we really want them to run the streets without income for themselves/ family? Not trying to get into a debate or anything...just thought I'd give you a little of my own perspective. :dilemma:

[NutmegYankee]

4. You know, we once had Americans doing these jobs...

And the food was quite affordable. And I frankly disagree that we wouldn't do those jobs for ANY amount of pay. In fact, i'm completely sure we could go down there and find a few Americans doing those jobs right now.

[liberal_rxstudent]

6. Of course...

My mother at one time was one of those americans picking fruit alongside a FEW other americans. She did what she had to do to take care of her 2 children at the time. Our society has shifted drastically since the good ole' days when americans did all of those types of jobs, and believe me, I am not saying it is right. I have noticed a downward trend in the # of americans interested in doing the jobs that require specialized knowledge and skill (I just look at my class of 84 pharm students as an example, heck, even the med program w/ 115 in each class...a few american-born citizens and majority being born overseas. Just like the illegals, they come here looking for opportunity.). Maybe...just maybe...americans will be the ones that will have to resort to these types of jobs once again while our high paying/ highly skilled jobs go to someone else that so many americans want to see out of our country. Just saying...

[Demobrat]

5. That is exactly the argument the businesses will use of course.

Problem is at this point we as a country are unwilling to give up the benefits of their hard work, but don't want to look at them when the work is done, or treat them with the dignity and respect every human deserves in return for their labor. And that's just wrong.

[Elspeth]

7. Business groups have challenged the law.

LOL

[liberal_rxstudent]

8. I am not saying that I think

that what is happening is right. Quite the opposite actually. Yes...no one should be getting paid such little to work in such (in many cases-harsh) conditions. I live in central florida, and I have had many opportunities to discuss this very issues with immigrants (legal and illegal). I have met people who are illegally here, and are scared to seek medical help for their (very ill) children because of their fear of being deported or lossing their ("great") jobs. Yes..if fruit pickers miss one day of work, they know that they can be replaced- thus causing more strife for these people. It is unfortunate that our country has become this way...but there is a big picture to look at. This issue affects more people than many can understand-