Whenever immigration comes up in debate, it's always argued that we should go after businesses first and not target those poor illegal aliens who are just doing jobs Americans don't want to do.
Now we're seeing stories complaining that going after businesses is driving out the illegal aliens.
Undocumented immigrants are starting to leave Arizona because of the new employer-sanctions law.
The state's strong economy has been a magnet for illegal immigrants for years. But a growing number are pulling up stakes out of fear they will be jobless come Jan. 1, when the law takes effect. The departures are drawing cheers from immigration hard-liners and alarm from business owners already seeing a drop in sales.
It's impossible to count how many undocumented immigrants have fled because of the new law. But based on interviews with undocumented immigrants, immigrant advocates, community leaders and real-estate agents, at least several hundred have left since Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano signed the bill on July 2. There are an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona.
The story quotes illegal alien advocates complaining that the new law is driving illegals back to Mexico or to other states and that this will adversely affect businesses in Arizona.
But this argument doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If illegal aliens go somewhere else, Arizona won't need as many employees because there won't be as many people needing services from housing construction to fast food services. In short, the law--or, in this case, the threat of the law--is causing the desired effect: illegal aliens are leaving. And Arizona doesn't even have a fence.
Why is that a bad thing again?
|