Thread: Boycotts of Arizona immigration law add up

Boycotts of Arizona immigration law add up

Updated 10m ago
By Roger Yu, USA TODAY

Many officials in Arizona's tourism and hospitality industry fear that the state's new immigration law is anything but hospitable.

Hotel owners, tour operators and convention executives say the law could discourage visitors and companies from meeting there at a time when one of the state's vital industries already is suffering.

The law, signed by Gov. Jan Brewer last week, makes it a misdemeanor to not prove lawful U.S. residence when asked to provide such documentation.

Already there are ramifications and threats:

•The American Immigration Lawyers Association notified JW Marriott in Scottsdale that it's canceling a meeting of about 300 scheduled for later this year. George Tzamaras, an association spokesman, says, "We didn't feel it was appropriate to have a meeting in (the) state."

•Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., has called for an economic boycott by businesses that would locate in his state or visitors who would meet there.

•Janet Murguia, head of the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights group, says she's considering "economic actions that can be taken."

•Asian American Hotel Owners Association, whose members own about 40% of U.S. hotels, want lawmakers to reconsider, says Ash Patel, the group's former chairman who owns several hotels in Arizona. "(Hotel owners) are very afraid right now," he says.

Arizona has felt the effect of a boycott before. The state lost about 170 conventions from 1990 to 1993 from boycotts because of the state's failure to approve a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Debbie Johnson, CEO of Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association, says her members are "deeply concerned."

Brewer says tourism in her state was affected before the law, however. The governor "is deeply concerned that the federal failure to secure our border has already harmed our tourism industry," Brewer spokesman Paul Senseman wrote in an e-mail.

Some business travelers, such as management consultant Randy Jones who's there often, say they welcome the law. "If anything," he says, "Arizona's position will cause me to go there more frequently."

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2 ... 7_ST_N.htm

Bull, Bull, and More Bull.

The grand boycotts of the past did nothing. NOTHING.

Dixie

Some business travelers, such as management consultant Randy Jones who's there often, say they welcome the law. "If anything," he says, "Arizona's position will cause me to go there more frequently."

Perhaps these hotel executives should re-examine their perception of this issue.

Janet Murguia, head of the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights group, says she's considering "economic actions that can be taken."

Quote:
"Asian American Hotel Owners Association, whose members own about 40% of U.S. hotels, want lawmakers to reconsider, says Ash Patel, the group's former chairman who owns several hotels in Arizona. "(Hotel owners) are very afraid right now," he says."

This high percentage of Asian American owners of U.S. hotels perhaps helps confirms complaints I had read that the U.S. Small Business Administration now favors foreign nationals, and especially natives of India, over U.S. citizen applicants in awarding SBA loans to buy owner-operated motels in the United States. My Sen. Cornyn, one of the founders of the "India Caucus" in the U.S. Senate, evidently has been a major "mover and shaker" in facilitating the interests of Indian business within the United States Congress. For Indian families wishing to buy U.S. motels, our immigration policy of "family reunification" (or "chain migration") forms a perfect means for one "nuclear family unit" to start with the purchase of one U.S. motel and then bring more family members into the country to buy others one by one.

If the Hispanics boycott Arizona won't the illegal aliens and other Hispanics who work in Arizona loose their jobs because of lack of work?

We need to start a campaign to support Arizona businesses. Maybe people pledging to take vacations or visit Arizona? Maybe there is a way we could support Arizona-based businesses that sell over the internet? We would want a way to make clear the reason for the support. If the OBL can boycott, then we should be able to do the opposite. Once people do business with an Arizona company just to support Arizona, we could post their business name somewhere, to give them a little free advertising....? Just some ideas.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

If the Hispanics boycott Arizona won't the illegal aliens and other Hispanics who work in Arizona
loose their jobs because of lack of work?

Good question! Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face!

All illegal aliens should boycott the whole U.S.

That would sure teach us a lesson.

Some business travelers, such as management consultant Randy Jones who's there often, say they welcome the law. "If anything," he says, "Arizona's position will cause me to go there more frequently."

I agree with this guy, Randy Jones. I've never been to Arizona, but now I want to make a point of going, just to meet these strong, motivated people who love their state and their country! Maybe I'll go visit the state legislative offices to thank the state legislators.

Time to make vacations plans. The Grand Canyon is awesome for example.