Arizona Illegals Getting Out Before the Law Changes

Arizona recently passed a tough new law regarding employers who hire illegal aliens. That law goes into effect on January 1, and it's already having an effect:

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.

Some are moving to other states, where they think they will have an easier time getting jobs. Others are returning to Mexico, selling their effects and putting their houses on the market.

The number departing is expected to mushroom as the Jan. 1 deadline draws closer. After that, the law will require employers to verify the employment eligibility of their workers through a federal database.

I imagine that many of them will simply head to a neighboring state with more lax regulations, though a fair amount may head home figuring more and more states are going to get tough on illegal immigration. Although I still support the building the wall, a wall will become far less necessary if the illegals can no longer easily get jobs.