Posted on 02/03/2008 4:40:50 PM PST by mdittmar
Illegal immigrants are coming into Texas, but not from where one might think.
The rush is coming from Oklahoma, Arizona and other states, places that have recently passed tough new anti-illegal immigrant laws.
The two toughest measures are in Oklahoma and Arizona.
The Oklahoma statute, which took effect in November, makes it a crime to transport, harbor or hire illegal immigrants. Effective Jan. 1, the Arizona law suspends the business license of employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. On a second offense, the license is revoked.
Anecdotal information seems to indicate that illegal immigrants are leaving these states in growing numbers.
"They're really tightening the screws," said Mario Ortiz, an undocumented Mexican worker who came to Houston after leaving Phoenix last year. "There have been a lot coming -- it could be 100 a day."
In Tulsa, Okla., the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has estimated that 15,000 to 25,000 illegal immigrants have left the area. One builder estimated that 30 percent of the Hispanic work force left Tulsa.
"There's been a tremendous impact in Oklahoma City," said David Castillo, the executive director of the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "We've had several companies close shop and leave the state. Banks have called us and say they're closing 30 accounts per week."
Enrique Hubbard, Mexico's consul general in Dallas, said a dozen Mexican families from Oklahoma have applied for consular documents listing their new homes in the Dallas area. He expects more to arrive because jobs are available in North Texas.
Texas' reputation as a welcoming destination has experts predicting more immigrants will come to Houston and other cities in the state. Texas has not passed any statewide law targeting the employment of undocumented workers.
"Texas is still very much an entrepreneurial place, where you can find your place in this economy," said James Hollifield, a Southern Methodist University professor and migration expert. "It's not an immigrant's paradise, but if you work hard and keep your head down you can get ahead."
Ortiz, a native of southern Mexican state of Tabasco, said he left Phoenix eight months ago working 60 to 70 hours a week as a nursery worker. While now he can only pick up two to three days a week of yardwork and barely earns enough to send back to his family, he prefers to be in Texas.
"Here, they let you work. Over there, they won't. There is a lot of racism, but here there isn't -- it's better," Ortiz said of Houston.
Any chance they can take the ones in Mexifornia too?
Maybe Kaye Bailey-Hutchinson will let them all stay at her place.
Ya think?
waste money on a wall
You would think different if you lived here in San Diego
South of us is Tijuana and we have tens of thousands of illegals costing us mega millions a year supporting them.
It would be cheaper to build the fence than supporting these leaches.
Also, the hispanic gangs prey on illegals and CA has a much worse reputaion on this. Not sure if it’s backed by facts.
No McCain
Well, just remember that the Red River is Oklahoma's property. So build the fence on the south bank.
Maybe Kaye Bailey-Hutchinson will let them all stay at her place.
Ya think?
_________________________________________________
Dont know
let me give girlfriend a call
“Ola, Senora Kay
Como estar usted ???
Su casa es mi casa, no ????
Si Si, bien
Vamos a su casa ???
Si ????
Muy bien, gracias, amiga”
We need to put them on the Green Dog with their family and take them to DC. Give them enough money to live for a month and drop them off with the understanding that if they come back they go to jail.
i’m telling ya, all we need to do is enforce the existing laws and make it an unwelcoming environment and they are fleeing. If Arizona can do it, anybody can.
The illegals are welcomed to leave California too!
This http://www.dailynews.com/ci_8080854 happened ten minutes from where I live. Those illegals MURDERED those poor people on that train. It makes me sick everytime I drive by there and see another of them as I go by.
I still dream of a President that will tackle the immigration problem with a multifaceted, TOTAL solution.
1. Build the wall.
2. Beef up border security personnel numbers and train them well.
3. Get rid of all subsidies, perks, freebies: Abolish welfare. Don’t even think about giving out driver’s licenses. Illegals get nothing, nada. No freebies, no benefits, nothing.
4. Abolish the law that says that if you’re born to illegal aliens within this country, you are a citizen.
5. Punish employers of illegals with stiff penalties and prison time.
6. Make illegal immigration an automatic felony.
7. Deploy the National Guard to clean up gang-infested areas.
8. Print every government-issued document in English only. (Yes, this will be harder on legal immigrants also, but it also sends the clear message that English is the national language here, and that immigrants need to assimilate and integrate, not just immigrate.)
Tell me if I missed anything...
Snickerz....
LOL
My fractured Espanol is muy bien than their English..
Si ???
Ironically, many have left California because it's "too much like Mexico." Now that they've turned California into the dump where they came from, they want to move on to other states and ruin them, too.
When I was young and living in apartments they said if you have roaches, and you fumigate one apartment they only move to another. Same concept I guess.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.