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| Illegal immigrants moving out |
| 2007-09-28 |
| Illegal immigrants living in states and cities that have adopted strict immigration policies are packing up and moving back to their home countries or to neighboring states. The exodus has been fueled by a wave of laws targeting illegal immigrants in Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and elsewhere. Many were passed after congressional efforts to overhaul the immigration system collapsed in June. Immigrants say the laws have raised fears of workplace raids and deportation. "People now are really frightened and scared because they don't know what's going to happen," says Juliana Stout, an editor at the newspaper El Nacional de Oklahoma. "They're selling houses. They're leaving the country." In Tulsa, schools have seen a drop in Hispanic enrollment. Oklahoma state Rep. Randy Terrill, Republican author of his state's law, says the flight proves it is working. Most provisions of an Oklahoma law take effect in November. Among other things, it cuts off benefits such as welfare and college financial aid. There's no hard demographic data on the trend, partly because it's hard to track people who are in the USA illegally. But school officials, real estate agents and church leaders say the movement is unmistakable. Illegal immigrants also are leaving Georgia, where a law requires companies on government contracts with at least 500 employees to check new hires against a federal database to make sure they are legally authorized to work. Real estate agent Guadalupe Sosa in Avondale, Ariz., outside Phoenix, says migration from the state began about three months ago, shortly after Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, signed a law that will take effect in January. Employers who hire illegal immigrants can lose their business licenses. Of the 10 homes Sosa has on the market, half belong to families that plan to leave because of immigration tensions. "They know they might be losing everything today or tomorrow," she says. Maria Sanchez, 35, joined the migration with her sister and nephew, who are in the country legally. Sanchez was in the USA illegally, but she has gotten a temporary work permit. The three lived in Aurora, Colo., when Sanchez was fired from her job as district manager of a fast-food chain after she couldn't provide a valid Social Security number. Colorado has approved several immigration measures. One gives employers 20 days to check and photocopy documents such as driver's licenses and Social Security cards, which new workers present to prove their legal status. In Hazleton, Pa., families started moving away after the city passed an illegal-immigrant law last summer, says Rudy Espinal, head of the Hazleton Hispanic Business Association. The law would fine landlords who rented to illegal immigrants and suspend the business licenses of companies that hired them. A companion measure would require tenants to register with the city and pay $10 for a rental permit. A federal judge ruled the measures unconstitutional in July, but that hasn't stopped people moving away, he says. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #15 I'm beginning to see this as the "perfect storm" of events. First, the Feds didn't do anything, so the locals/States are taking it upon themselves to do it (here in metro Atlanta, several cities/counties have made it illegal to rent apartments to illegals, have started cracking down on 20 person "single family" homes, etc.). In fact, one County got their police "deputized" by ICE so that they could access ICE's database to see immigration status of those they pulled over for other (mostly driving) violations. This local action, combined with the slump in the housing market (which is where a lot of them work) may be the "perfect storm" we've been waiting on. I just hope they actually move back home, and don't just call "squatter's rights" to stay here and get gubmint bennies. |
| Posted by: BA 2007-09-28 22:51 |
| #14 But.......but........but......I thought enforcement would never work! |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2007-09-28 22:23 |
| #13 Prepare yourself, RE: Felon HEADSLAMMERS from Islamic countries and their illegal kissing kousins from down South... Little Dicky Durbin is about to fuck over every US Citizen AGAIN by giving away "free" education [including 4 free years @ university] to every illegal immigrant here in America or any new one that shows up next year on our soil! Small point, when Senator A$$ Drip Durbin "gives" away any money or tuition to anyone, its is our Money and Largess that he plays Big Shot with when he Pisses up the Wall! Oh and BTW, The gall of this son of a Bitch is unlimited... He stuck his amendment on the DoD appropriations bill for our Troops in Iraq. wait for it.... He named it, Sen. Durbin's "Dream Act" *PUKE*!! Plz God SMITE little dicky durbin with something so HORRIBLE that it will make his fellow travellers quake with fear. |
| Posted by: Red Dawg 2007-09-28 21:42 |
| #12 There's a move in several places to let non-citizens vote locally and maybe in state races too. Some members of this movement don't give much importance to legal vs. illegal immigrant along the way. |
| Posted by: lotp 2007-09-28 20:35 |
| #11 Has anyone told those assholes that illegals can't vote? |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-09-28 19:45 |
| #10 FREEREPUBLIC/OTHER > TEN REASONS WHY THE US ECONOMY IS NOT IN TROUBLE. Artickle > HOUSING per se comprises only five percent of US total economy. In any case, unlike as during the Cold War, the impetus in the 21st Century is towards MEGALOPOLISes and beyond, i.e. CITIES THE SIZE OF [SMALL?]COUNTRIES. OWG > "THE WORLD" outside of CONUS is now America's SUBURBS. See George Jetson, Lando Kalrissian?, and CORSICANT PLANET-CITY. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-09-28 19:42 |
| #9 I know it ain't Christian - or even civil - to hate people. But I sure don't like Nancy Pelosi very much at all. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-09-28 16:37 |
| #8 Rep. Pelosi criticizes border fence EDINBURG, Texas (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called a plan to build fencing along parts of the Mexico border a "terrible idea" that overlooks local communities. Pelosi made the comments during her trip to the Rio Grande Valley for the annual Hispanic Engineering, Science & Technology Week conference at the University of Texas-Pan American. Excuse me, Madame Speaker. It's time to pander. Oh. Thanks... "I have been against the fence, I thought it's a bad idea even when it was just a matter of discussion," said Pelosi, D-Calif. "These are communities where you have a border going through them, they are not communities where you have a fence splitting them." Well, not yet... Last year, President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act requiring the construction of fencing along the 2,000-mile border. The plans call for about 370 miles of fence and 200 miles of vehicle barriers, including concrete barriers, by the end of 2008. Anybody been keeping track of that? Pelosi also touted legislation known as the DREAM Act that would make it easier for some illegal immigrants to receive higher education benefits. She spoke at a conference that drew more than 5,000 students for activities designed to inspire careers in science and technology. The DREAM Act would eliminate a federal provision that discourages states from providing illegal immigrants with lower in-state tuition rates. It also would allow permanent residency for illegal immigrants who entered the country as children and have been admitted to an institution of higher education."It just isn't fair," Pelosi said. "Those young people who came to America one way or another ... their opportunities are curtailed because of the situation. And it's not only harmful to them — it's harmful to the country." |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-09-28 16:30 |
| #7 Don't let the screen border hit ya... |
| Posted by: Cravins Untervehr8884 2007-09-28 16:08 |
| #6 The collapse of the housing market isn't hurting the problem, either. AMF. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-09-28 16:08 |
| #5 Canada is starting to have an illegal immigrant problem, as they move across our northern border. Sorry, guys! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-09-28 16:03 |
| #4 Canadian bennys are pretty good. But, if pressed, I will disavow any knowledge of this conversation... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-09-28 15:32 |
| #3 Well waddaya know. It works. |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-09-28 15:31 |
| #2 Y'all don't come back now, y'here. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2007-09-28 15:29 |
| #1 Cya |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-09-28 13:16 |