Are the new illegal immigration laws working too well?

http://www.topix.com/news/immigration/2 ... g-too-well
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 27, 2007 01:06 PM

According to USA Today, 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. Supporters of the laws cheer the departure of illegal immigrants and say the laws are working as intended. But some folks think the laws are working too well.

With the departure of so many people in Riverside, N.J., the local economy suffered. Hair salons, restaurants and corner shops that catered to the immigrants saw business plummet; several closed. Once-boarded-up storefronts downtown were boarded up again, reported the New York Times.

What are your views about the new laws that are driving out illegal immigrants? Are the new laws having a bulldozer effect when a shovel might be more appropriate? Or are they exactly the right tools for solving the problem? Will we pay an economic price for the immigrant exodus?
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Comments on Topix:

Agent of Chaos

Not working well enough yet.

Heidekraut

If the law would work well, they would not be here.

Heidekraut

More enforcement please.