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.
“There is a lot of racism” Don’t you just love it, they invade our country and then call US racists.
Crime Pays ? in other words !
Here in Bay County, Florida, the Sheriff’s Dept. stopped in at a construction site. A couple of workers were arrested and several fled. A few days later, another construction site was visited....same results.
Now, there are hardly any Mexican appearing families in Walmart and no laborers standing around where they once gathered. The School District says it cannot confirm because of confidentiality but enrollment is down.
I read a letter to the editor of a neighboring county paper that said there was a sharp increase in illegals there and it was believed they came because of our sheriff. Others say it may be partly due to the decline in new construction.
Maybe all illegals will head for the border!
I’m in AZ and I can’t wait to see how the new law works.
It is based on the federal E-verify system which is set to expire in December.
Without this federal system in place there is no way to check the SS#.
So will the dems re-fund this program right before the elections?
I’m glad the Mexicans can’t read English!
Oh great.......first we were inundated with all the Katrina rejects in Houston. Now all the illegals are headed our way. Governor Perry, what are you going to do? Governor Perry???? Hello, anyone home???? Hello?
I see what your saying but if there is no reason for them to come here they will most likely stay at home.
Heck California never even passed the welfare reform bills from the 90’s! It costs them over $200 million a year.
Can anybody tell me, since when are the Mexicans a "RACE"?...did I miss anything in the history class?
Not only is Gov. Perry freindly to the illegals just like Bush, but he is also ok with the NASCO Corridor/NAFTA Highway which is being built from the western Mexican ports through Texas and on through the center of the country to Canada. That is the kind of Benedict Arnolds that we have in office these days.
This is just a bing atm machine to the nations. Why can’t our “leaders” understand that when people come into our country illegally, they are coming here on THEIR terms, not ours. They don’t give a bleep about our laws, Constitution, traditions, way of life, values, principles and they don’t respect us as people either because they know they are trespassing on our property and we don’t like it but they still keep coming. Then they demonize us and call us racist. That is rubbing salt into the wound.
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