Thread: AZ:Most undocumented workers watching, waiting

Most undocumented workers watching, waiting
Exodus hinges on 2 court challenges
Daniel González
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 8, 2007 12:00 AM

The state's new employer-sanctions law and other measures aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration already have prompted many undocumented immigrants to pack up and move out of Arizona. But the majority of the 500,000 are staying put - for now.

Many are waiting to see if two lawsuits aimed at blocking the sanctions law are successful before making a decision to stay or go. Others are waiting to see how the law will be enforced.

If a large-scale exodus does materialize, it probably won't begin until December, just before the new law takes effect Jan. 1, say immigrants, church leaders and immigrant advocates. December also is traditionally when many Mexican immigrants, who make up the bulk of the state's undocumented population, return home for the holidays.

By then, a federal judge is expected to have ruled on lawsuits that claim the sanctions law should be struck down on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

"There is no doubt that people have left, but I see no evidence of massive leavings," said Alfredo Gutierrez, who hosts a popular talk-radio program for immigrants on La Campesina (88.3 FM), a Spanish radio station. "But certainly people are really talking about it."

Some are thinking about going back to Mexico. Others are considering moving to states such as Oregon, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Illinois and New York. There is a perception that those states are more welcoming to immigrants because they have passed laws that make it easier for them to live there. New York, for example, passed a law in September allowing illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses, joining eight states with similar laws, among them Oregon, Utah and New Mexico.

Carlos Flores Vizcarra, the consul general of Mexico in Phoenix, doesn't believe a large exodus of immigrants has yet materialized. There is ample evidence, however, that many are preparing to return to Mexico or move to other states.

The number of Mexican nationals applying for Mexican birth certificates for their U.S.-born children this year is up 36 percent compared with last year, he said. In September alone, the consulate processed 170 birth-certificate applications, 70 percent more than September last year. The increase in applications is not due to an increase in births because the parents are applying for children of all ages, not just babies.

The consulate also has issued 11,868 passports so far this year, more than double the number issued through September of last year.

"What I am seeing is an increasing number of Mexican nationals coming to the consul to get documents," Flores Vizcarra said. "This is what I would call a process of preparation. They are getting ready to leave, some of them."


Pulling the plug
The law passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Janet Napolitano on July 2 is intended to crack down on illegal immigration by pulling the plug on the job magnet that draws undocumented workers to Arizona. Supporters say they hope the law will drive illegal immigrants out of the state. Business owners worry a mass exodus of workers could devastate the state's economy.

The law requires all employers to verify the employment eligibility of new hires using a federal database, and it threatens to put employers out of business if they knowingly or intentionally hire unauthorized workers. Immigrants say the sanctions law has raised fears they will lose their jobs and won't be able to find another one. But they aren't ready to pull up stakes just yet.

"We are waiting to see what happens in January," said Antonio, 50, who asked that his last name not be used because he is undocumented. The native of Queretaro state in central Mexico had an appointment on Thursday at the Mexican consulate in Phoenix to get a Mexican birth certificate for his daughter, Jetsemani, 11, an American citizen.

The house painter, who has lived in Phoenix for 13 years, said he wanted the documents in case he decides to move to Nogales, Sonora, just across the border from Arizona.

"The law is going to make it more difficult for the Latinos," Antonio said.

Luis, 24, a restaurant cook, and his wife, Jasmin, 21, undocumented immigrants from Puebla, said they are waiting until December before deciding whether to move back to Mexico. In the meantime, they are making preparations. With their 1-year-old child, they waited in a long line at the consulate to make an appointment to apply for a Mexican birth certificate for their baby. The process takes about two weeks.


Fear of deportation
Immigrants say there are several factors other than the sanctions law that are also making them think about leaving Arizona. One is the state's flagging housing industry, which has made many immigrants worried about layoffs and reductions in hours.

Another is a fear of work-site raids and deportations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has dramatically stepped up immigration enforcement in Arizona, resulting in the deportation of thousands of undocumented immigrants. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, using deputies specially trained to enforce federal immigration laws, also has rounded up hundreds of undocumented immigrants in a series of highly publicized actions.

"The word I hear a lot is 'persecution,' " said the Rev. Robert Skagen, pastor at Most Holy Trinity, a Catholic church in north Phoenix with a large number of Latino immigrants in the congregation. "Many of them have been here many years. They are wondering why, after they have worked here many years and have worked very hard, why are they all of a sudden not welcome?"

Avondale resident Carlos Silva, 50, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, said he already has made up his mind. A friend told him there are plenty of jobs in Utah, so he made two trips there, first to gauge the climate toward immigrants and then to look for an apartment. He said he plans to pack up and move to Utah with his wife and three children at the end of this month.

"It is very quiet there," said Silva, who works on a golf-course irrigation crew. "There is less chance they are going to come and deport me."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... 1008.html#

Published: 10.08.2007

Migrants waiting to see how employer sanctions law plays outMexico's consul general says he doesn't believe a large exodus of immigrants has yet materialized
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOENIX -- Clergy, immigrants and immigrant advocates say that most undocumented immigrants are taking a wait and see attitude on Arizona's upcoming employer-sanctions law.
Others say the state's move to crackdown on undocumented workers has led some of them to leave Arizona for other states or back to Mexico.
Carlos Flores Vizcarra, the consul general of Mexico based in Phoenix said he doesn't believe a large exodus of immigrants has yet materialized. There is ample evidence, however, that many are preparing to return to Mexico or move to other states.
"What I am seeing is an increasing number of Mexican nationals coming to the consul to get documents," Flores Vizcarra said. "This is what I would call a process of preparation. They are getting ready to leave, some of them."
Immigrant advocates said many want to see whether two lawsuits aimed at blocking the sanctions law are successful while other want to see how it will be enforced.
If a large scale exodus does happen, it probably won't occur until December, just before the law takes effect Jan. 1, say religious leaders and others.
By then, a federal ruling could be handed down on lawsuits that claim the sanctions law should be struck down on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.
"There is no doubt that people have left, but I see no evidence of massive leavings," said Alfredo Gutierrez, who hosts a popular talk-radio program for immigrants on the Spanish radio station La Campesina (88.3 FM). But certainly people are really talking about it. Some are thinking about going back to Mexico, Gutierrez said.
The law passed the Legislature this year and was signed by Gov. Janet Napolitano on July 2.
Backers said it is intended to crack down on illegal immigration by removing the job magnet that draws undocumented workers to Arizona.
Business owners have said a mass exodus of workers could devastate the state's economy.
When it takes effect, the law will require all employers to verify the employment eligibility of new hires using a federal database.
It also threatens to put employers out of business if they knowingly or intentionally hire unauthorized workers. Immigrants say the sanctions law has raised fears they will lose their jobs and won't be able to find another one.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/205192

UH OH don't let "Paige" see this!!! Utah