Companies in Arizona that serve Hispanics are seeing declines in business as the July 29 implementation date of a new immigration enforcement law approaches. USA Today reports the law is causing an exodus of Hispanics from the state. Another effect of the law is that school districts in heavily populated Hispanic areas are seeing declines in enrollment.
Senate Bill 1070 was signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on April 23. The law requires officials and agencies of the state and political subdivisions to fully comply with and assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. It also establishes crimes involving failure to complete an alien registration document, hiring or soliciting work under specified circumstances, and transporting or harboring unlawful aliens and their respective penalties.
Juan Carlos Cruz, an illegal immigrant who has worked in plant nurseries for 20 years, told the newspaper that he is considering moving his family to Virginia or California to avoid harassment by Arizona law enforcement officials. Cruz said he is hoping to move July 4 in order to blend in with holiday weekend traffic.