Thread: Drop in legal Mexican visitors hurts Southern Arizona

Drop in legal Mexican visitors hurts Southern Arizona

Posted 8m ago
By Dennis Wagner, USA TODAY

NOGALES, Ariz. — The number of legal visitors entering Arizona from Mexico has plummeted amid the controversy of increased enforcement of state immigration laws.

Total cross-border visits into Arizona in the months after Gov. Jan Brewer signed the immigration enforcement law in April have fallen 17% compared to the same period in 2009, according to Customs and Border Protection data. The drop-off amounts to about 12,500 fewer people entering Arizona daily, the data show.

Four days after Brewer, a Republican, signed the immigration enforcement law, Mexico issued a warning to its citizens about travel into Arizona.

Across the entire Southwest border during that same time frame, where that law has not been an issue, lawful entries by land from Mexico fell by less than 7%, according to the data.

Erik Lee, of the North American Center for Transborder Studies at Arizona State University, said reduced tourism can be blamed on "a little bit of everything," but the net result is a big financial hit. "Southern Arizona's economy really depends on the relentless Mexican shoppers," he said.

The drop in tourism has been a trend for several years. In fiscal 2007-08, according to Customs and Border Protection data, nearly 209 million people came into the U.S. legally via land ports from Mexico. That number dropped 10% last fiscal year — even before Arizona's immigration law controversy.

A study issued in January by the University of Arizona's Economic and Business Research Center says the more than 24 million legal visitors who visited the state in 2007-08 spent about $2.7 billion at stores, restaurants, hotels and other businesses. "Almost 23,400 wage-and-salary jobs in Arizona are directly attributable to Mexican visitor spending," the report says.

Tucson and Pima County, Ariz., are listed as the greatest beneficiaries, with $1 billion in annual receipts from Mexican visitors, that study showed. Phoenix and Maricopa County ranked second, with $694 million.

Ernesto Chavez, who runs a stationery store in a border shopping district in Nogales that caters to customers from Mexico, says business is down 70%.

Although Chavez primarily blames the recession, he said Arizona politicians compounded problems. Across the street, Noemi Lee, co-owner of Casa Noemi, said business at her apparel store dropped mostly because of border lines and the new law. "The people just don't come anymore. They believe there is discrimination. They're angry," she said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/201 ... 6_ST_N.htm

All of them will be ok soon we hope to come over and shop and respect the laws and GO HOME

Better make sure you have your US approved ID, the ones that are accepted today. Period.

Ernesto Chavez, who runs a stationery store in a border shopping district in Nogales that caters to customers from Mexico, says business is down 70%.

Although Chavez primarily blames the recession, he said Arizona politicians compounded problems. Across the street, Noemi Lee, co-owner of Casa Noemi, said business at her apparel store dropped mostly because of border lines and the new law. "The people just don't come anymore. They believe there is discrimination. They're angry," she said.

Just a thought but maybe you should diversify your clientele? Stop being so xenophobic and racist by pandering to one ethnicity.

NOGALES, Ariz. — The number of legal visitors entering Arizona from Mexico has plummeted amid the controversy of increased enforcement of state immigration laws.
How do they know how many LEGAL visitors that there are ? Who cares ? There are many people that I know In Caleeeeefornia ( WHITE AMERICAN CITIZENS ) that are thinking about moving to Arizona. Leaving a "sanctuary state" and coming to a state that actually welcomes It's own citizens over a bunch of law breaking Illegals...

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Ernesto Chavez, who runs a stationery store in a border shopping district in Nogales that caters to customers from Mexico, says business is down 70%.

Although Chavez primarily blames the recession, he said Arizona politicians compounded problems. Across the street, Noemi Lee, co-owner of Casa Noemi, said business at her apparel store dropped mostly because of border lines and the new law. "The people just don't come anymore. They believe there is discrimination. They're angry," she said.

Maybe he can blame the recession, but this is the result of misinformation that pro-illegals groups created about 1070 law to gain support outside the USA. It seems that has affected Hispanic business more than others. What Ernesto and Noemi should do is sue La Raza and all those pro-illegals groups for the losses they have caused to their business.

his former customers from over the border dont know who to blame because they dont know what the truth really is

Originally Posted by miguelina

Ernesto Chavez, who runs a stationery store in a border shopping district in Nogales that caters to customers from Mexico, says business is down 70%.

Although Chavez primarily blames the recession, he said Arizona politicians compounded problems. Across the street, Noemi Lee, co-owner of Casa Noemi, said business at her apparel store dropped mostly because of border lines and the new law. "The people just don't come anymore. They believe there is discrimination. They're angry," she said.

Just a thought but maybe you should diversify your clientele? Stop being so xenophobic and racist by pandering to one ethnicity.

Exactly! We went there to support AZ over the summer - but NOT the area near the border. If they'd clean it up, maybe more Americans would want to go there.

Originally Posted by sophi

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Ernesto Chavez, who runs a stationery store in a border shopping district in Nogales that caters to customers from Mexico, says business is down 70%.

Although Chavez primarily blames the recession, he said Arizona politicians compounded problems. Across the street, Noemi Lee, co-owner of Casa Noemi, said business at her apparel store dropped mostly because of border lines and the new law. "The people just don't come anymore. They believe there is discrimination. They're angry," she said.

Maybe he can blame the recession, but this is the result of misinformation that pro-illegals groups created about 1070 law to gain support outside the USA. It seems that has affected Hispanic business more than others. What Ernesto and Noemi should do is sue La Raza and all those pro-illegals groups for the losses they have caused to their business.

Right on. They really kicked themselves in the arse with this one.