Economic Impact on Arizona Hardens Hearts

When Moses approached the Pharaoh and demanded that he "Let my people go," the Pharaoh turned away. Plagues and pestilence followed, and ultimately the death of all of the firstborn children of the Egyptians.

Arizona's new law, which does not take into account individual cases, the immigrants who have lived with their families here for decades or the possibilities of abuse by law officials, is patently cruel. In reaction to the law, the cities of Tucson and Flagstaff in Arizona are suing the state, the mayor of Phoenix has voiced his opposition, and even the Suns basketball team has spoken out against it by wearing jerseys inscribed with "Los Suns."

In addition, 15 cities and 12 organizations have decided to boycott the state for conventions or events. Arizona will suffer a tremendous economic blow from those who are angered by the new law. At least $10-$12 million in convention business in Phoenix alone has been lost, and far more will be lost if the law is not repealed. And the law will not go into effect until July.

There is a tremendous financial problem, too, in enforcing the law, since there are an estimated half a million illegal immigrants living in the state now. I saw firsthand as a reporter in Texas writing about a border detention center in Laredo that it's not as simple as a lot of proponents think it is. Families, including young children, were among those detained there -- babies in jail, in essence. Some Mexican adults there had worked legally in the country for years, then one year stayed instead of going back to Mexico after their seasonal work was over. Many blended in easily in border towns, where the majority of residents were Mexican. The vast majority were not criminals in any sense, other than they did not manage to get legal status in this country.

I saw firsthand what a lack of immigrants in a city can do -- St. Louis suffered from a lack of innovation and economic strength during the many years when immigrants were practically nonexistent there. Now that there has been several waves of new immigrants, the city is thriving. A recent New York Times story on the positive impact of immigration -- legal and not -- is convincing evidence that the overwhelming result is a good one.

A "buy Arizona" campaign is being launched on May 29 to rally those who support the law to bring business and tourism to the state. Obviously they don't think the economic impact will be that severe, and that the state will weather it OK.

A report on CBS 5 News in Phoenix tonight mentioned that the new law is attracting neo-Nazis and other hate groups to the state who approve of the law. It's just one more sign that the law is wrong.

I wonder what it will take for Arizona's legislature to see the truth that the law will not only fail to stop the border problems, but will create even greater ones. Economic disaster? Broken families? Hate crimes? Only time will tell. I hope that the state eventually lets SB 1070 go.