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Hispanics leave AZ over immigrant law
A yard sale shows the possessions for sale of four Hispanic families who are moving out of Arizona.
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Leticia Munoz with her 8-year old daughter at the school they'll leave behind when they move from Phoenix.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors meets today in Oklahoma City, Okla. They spent part of their morning, though, talking about Arizona. The mayors went on the record against Arizona's new immigration law that's set to go into effect at the end of next month. The one that makes it makes a crime to be in that state without the right papers. The mayors also want Washington to get its act together on federal immigration reform, so that state laws aren't necessary anymore. Some illegal immigrants in Arizona aren't waiting around.
By Jeff Tyler
All over Phoenix, you'll find yard sales, like this one -- Silvia Arias sells the possessions of four Hispanic families. They're undocumented, so they're moving some place else.
"Some are returning to Mexico," Arias said. "Some are moving to Albuquerque."
The new law -- requiring police to verify the legal status of immigrants -- has created a climate of fear.
"Everyone is migrating to other states to see if we can find a better life for our children," she said.
Leticia Munoz also wants a better life for her kids. She's been in the U.S. for 10 years. Now, she's planning to move her family back to Mexico.
"There really are no jobs there," Munoz said. "I don't want to go back. I have three children. But, these new laws really scare me."
She used to earn around $400 a month babysitting the children of other immigrants. But over the last year-and-a-half, Arizona has cracked down on businesses that employ undocumented workers. Many immigrants have lost their jobs, and they no longer need a babysitter. Leticia is down to making $90 dollars a month -- not enough to live on.
When she leaves, she'll pull her 8-year-old daughter out of school. It's a pattern that's creating chaos for the school district.
Impact on schools
"In the last five weeks, we're down about almost 100 students," said Jeffrey Smith, superintendent of the Balsz Elementary School District.
He says the state reimburses the district about $5,000 per child.
"The hundred students that we've lost translate into, I believe, a half-a-million dollars," he said.
The school year ended last Friday. During the summer break, more students are expected to leave town. If the district loses too much funding, it could be forced to cut teachers. Smith's also concerned about how the exodus will impact surrounding neighborhoods.
"It can blight a community," the superintendent said. "So you have apartments that are less and less full. Businesses close down. So we're very concerned about what effect this will have on the economy in this area."
But isn't the economic impact offset by the money taxpayers will save on social services? Probably not.
Judy Gans studies the economics of immigration at the University of Arizona. She says the state doesn't have a surplus of young, low-skilled workers. So, if Arizona kicks out all the illegal immigrants, and replaces them with Americans from other states, taxpayers will still have to subside the low-skilled workers.
"Any low-skilled worker generally is going to pay less in taxes than they consume in social services," Gans said.
Before the recession, Gans says immigrant labor helped fuel growth in construction, manufacturing and the hotel industry.
"One needs to be really careful about sort of thinking we can parse this and get rid of certain categories of workers without hurting the whole industry," she said.
Impact on businesses
The music is still upbeat at this strip mall in an immigrant neighborhood, but businesses here are suffering because so many Hispanics have left town. Francisco Noriega works at a jewelry store.
"People are afraid to go out now, you know what I mean? They don't want to spend money in case of an emergency," he said.
Noriega estimates his business has gone down about 70-80 percent.
Noriega is a U.S. citizen. The departure of his customers -- many of whom are undocumented -- could cost him his job.
"It's affecting every single one of us, really, a lot," he said.
And it's expected to get worse for local businesses next month. During a recent coffee talk at an elementary school, a group of 40 undocumented parents were asked, "How many of you will leave town if the law goes into effect at the end of July?" They all raised their hands.
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I didn't embed the FRONTLINE videos properly: in case go to the website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/share.html?s=frow03s2db3qac5 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/share.html?s=frow03s3052qb71 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/js/pap/embed.js?frow03 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/js/pap/embed.js?frow03s3052qb71"... http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/js/pap/embed.js?frow03s3052qb71"...
I am sad today. I am 52 year old second generation Mexican-American woman. My parents came to Lordsburg New Mexico in 1957. We all were born in the states. We settled outside of Chicago, Illinois in 1964. I eventually went to college and became a nurse practitioner certified nurse midwife--pursuing the American dream. I have been a productive and contributing member of society by working in a low-income clinic that takes care of uninsured people of ALL colors and ALL walks of life and sometimes deliver their babies. I DON"T discriminate. I am tired of the xenophobia and hatred perpetrated by people who don't have a basic understanding of economics and cultures. History has shown when there are hard times...the voiceless are usually the ones that get picked on. WAKE UP and smell the coffee as you gringos would say. The greedy bankers on wall street and sub prime lenders caused all the economy woes to happen not the "illegal" immigrant. PLEASE educate yourselves on the history of the U.S/Mexico border. The schools don't do a very good job in telling us as kids what really happened to all the people including Native Americans that lived in the territories that once belonged to Mexico. Don't just digest the gobbledygook that politicians (that want your vote) and the rest of the uneducated masses. Research it out: read other sources of news information with unbiased outlook. Frontline produced 2 excellent 16 minute mini-docs about immigration.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/share.html?s=frow03s2db3qac5
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/share.html?s=frow03s3052qb71
I am sad today. I am 52 year old second generation Mexican-American woman. My parents came to Lordsburg New Mexico in 1957. We all were born in the states. We settled outside of Chicago, Illinois in 1964. I eventually went to college and became a nurse practitioner certified nurse midwife--pursuing the American dream. I have been a productive and contributing member of society by working in a low-income clinic that takes care of uninsured people of ALL colors and ALL walks of life and sometimes deliver their babies. I DON"T discriminate. I am tired of the xenophobia and hatred perpetrated by people who don't have a basic understanding of economics and cultures. History has shown when there are hard times...the voiceless are usually the ones that get picked on. WAKE UP and smell the coffee as you gringos would say. The greedy bankers on wall street and sub prime lenders caused all the economy woes to happen not the "illegal" immigrant. PLEASE educate yourselves on the history of the U.S/Mexico border. The schools don't do a very good job in telling us as kids what really happened to all the people including Native Americans that lived in the territories that once belonged to Mexico. Don't just digest the gobbledygook that politicians (that want your vote) and the rest of the uneducated masses. Research it out: read other sources of news information with unbiased outlook. Frontline produced 2 excellent 16 minute mini-docs about immigration.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/share.html?s=frow03s2db3qac5
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/share.html?s=frow03s3052qb71
These people would like nothing more than to get a legal status and pay taxes like everyone else. The process to get into this country legally needs to be reformed and then more people probably would come across the border the right way.
When people enter a country illegally they should NOT be rewarded. There are plenty of people who are here illegally collecting social security and people who are here legally but NEVER worked a single day in the USA but still collect social security. Other welfare services, health services and education should ONLY available to people who are here legally. Why should citizens/residents bear the cost of illegals and the inability to get jobs/into colleges/schools because illegals fill those spots?
So why are they not paying taxes and contributing to the usa economy. Why do they kids go to school for free while I have to pay for mines. Why is a teacher salary only dependent on USA citizens taxes. Many own business and are working so where is there share. They are acting like victims and we are the punishers. Well we are victims of their selfishness and greed on our land and money. Pay your taxes, walk in through the front door and stop abusing our system. Getting free classes in english who pays for that. WE do us americans. us that you hate, the usa that you hate. YOu abuse us. and sent your money back to Mexico or wherever and we are suffering here with over population. YOu want a better life then live like we usa ciitizens do you cant have your cake and eat it too. you want to be here free. all for free. free schools, free medical free food. Look at the one who has 3 kids who paid that hospital bill. WE the USA citizens. So PAY YOUR TAXES TOO SO WE ALL CAN LIVE! SO OUR CHILDREN CAN GO TO SCHOOL. I am tired of carrying your weight and tears that you caused upon us. what does the word illegal mean. you have no respect for this country or the usa citizens. I know many who own businesses and do not pay taxes for years. so what is up with that. that you do not mention or talk about. where is your fare share of taxes, you only talk about the injustice. etc. You came here illegally what did you expect roses at your feet. You are causing over population, you are going to burn the system out, the school, medical banks system with all of you not paying taxes and living free. SOME OF YOU STAY ILLEGAL FOR YEARS BECAUSE YOU DONT PAY TAXES. Stop the tears and yelling and speak the truth. Pay your taxes and walk in the front door of the USA and then you will be fine and not have to hide and protest. I am overburden with paying taxes, I want to do things for my children and cannot because of all the darn taxes being taken out and here I hear and see these illegals going to FREE ENGLISH AND ART CLASES WHAT IS THAT? WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS??? THEY GO TO CLASSES IN PUBLIC VIEW WHERE ARE THE AUTHORITIES IN THESE PUBLIC SCHOOLS GIVING CLASSES. QUIET AS SOON AS THE SCHOOLS TEACHERS GET PAID AND THE SCHOOL RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE STATE. TO HELL WITH THE USA CITIZEN AND OUR CHILDREN.
Judy Gans may study the economics of immigration at the University of Arizona, but she misses the point on the economic impact that hiring legitimate labor has over hiring illegal aliens. Besides the cost of having to subside the low-skilled ilelgal workers, there is the fact that they export substantial parts of their income abroad. Hiring citizens at least ensures that billions of dollars remain in our economy while maybe pulling some families out of wellfare. By the same token, any business whose commercial model or strategy relies on the illegal alien consumer is not unlike a business that relies on illegal drug trafficking client to make money.
Regarding the school would loose $5,000 per child--and where is that money coming from? The tooth fairy? Who is being taxed to pay for that, while illegals pay NO taxes. And what about all the folks trying to get into this country legally? On long long waiting lists? When you saturate a country with illegals, it makes the numbers of LEGAL immigrants who are allowed in very small. This story was so blatantly one sided, right down to the "undocumented worker" description I'm surprised my radio didn't fall over. I felt the need to listen to ten minutes of Rush just to get my horizontal equilibrium back. "Undocumented, huh?" Do they only need to go to the local town hall and get their documents? Or would alerting themselves to the authorities land them in jail? Well, then, it's not a question of documents is it? It's that small matter of their breaking the law by skipping the line that is trying to get in legally and being here ILLEGALLY. Maybe you dont mind the difference, but hundred of folks waiting in line to get in legally probably do. This piece was the far the Bizzaro world equivalent to Fox News. No journalistic integrity in it at all. Horrible. Next time, make some attempt of telling BOTH sides of the issue, thank you very much.
Sounds to me like the law....is working. What's with the "undocumented workers" reference? They ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS! They are in this country ILLEGALLY! What about the Mexicans on that LONG waiting list to get here legally? All the more ILLEGAL aliens, the more LEGAL ones are not allowed, the smaller those numbers. Why do you put your sympathies with someone who breaks the law? I see illegals as that person at the red light to cuts in front of all the traffic and tries to squeeze in. I hate those people. I'd just as soon run them off the road. I'm sorry, there is a legal process to get in this country. They aren't "undocumented", they are ILLEGAL. They ARE breaking the law and they SHOULD go home so those on the LEGAL waiting list can enter. THEY have been waiting for years.
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