How Arizona's New Immigration Law is Affecting Phoenix

The strong debate over Arizona's passage of Senate Bill 1070 on April 23, 2010 has Phoenix receiving the brunt of the dispute over this controversial law that will take effect some time this summer. Organized protests at the State Capitol, rallies in support of the law, marches on public school campuses, travel alerts, boycotts, business leaders speaking out and mixed media debates all contribute to the impact the new law is having upon Phoenix and surrounding Arizona communities.

This past weekend the State Capitol Building was center stage for protests in opposition of the new immigration law. By Sunday protests were attended by thousands of people but remained peaceful. On Monday morning April 26, 2010 swastikas were found on the windows of the State Capitol building made from smeared refried beans as well as "AZ=Nazi's" written on the sidewalk. This recent vandalism upon the State Capitol is still under investigation. It is reported by AZfamily.com that "protesters are still at the Capitol, vowing to stay and peacefully make their voices heard."

Before the bill was signed by Governor Jan Brewer, thousands of students across Phoenix walked out of school on Thursday, April 22, to protest with others at the State Capitol. A student that attends a public high school located in Buckeye, Arizona informed me that a group of students formed a Protest March on the high school campus on Friday April 23 against the passage of the new law. Students that participated in this march felt that the new law was attacking their civil rights.

The Mexican Government has issued Travel Alerts to their citizens considering a visit to Arizona advising the travelers to use extreme caution. Mexico is stating that the tough new immigration law will require Mexican citizens to provide US issued travel documents or risk arrest. After researching the internet I found a link to Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website in English, with the actual travel alert that was issued on April 27, 2010. Click here for that link. Along with the travel advisory, a Mexican government- affiliated agency is calling for boycotts against the Phoenix based US Airways, the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team and the Phoenix Suns basketball team, claiming these organizations support this new law.

Some business leaders in the Phoenix area fear loss of economic income and tourism for the state of Arizona because of the proposed boycotts and the tightening down of employment practices in the job place. These leaders believe that some businesses may steer clear of Arizona all together and that some established businesses might relocate.

Media debates have been constant since Governor Jan Brewer signed the bill into law on April 23, 2010. Local Phoenix television stations and radio stations have been hosting live talk shows on this political topic, and internet forums have been used as a sounding board for the ongoing controversy. Most of the media has focused their reports on the opposition of the new immigration law, but a recent telephone poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports shows that 70% of likely voters in the state of Arizona approve of the new legislation, while only 23% actually oppose it.

Sources:

Mexican Travel Advisory Source: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/04/27/20100427arizona-immigration-law-mexico-travel-alert.html

Boycott Source: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/04/27/20100427arizona-immigration-law-mexico-travel-alert.html?source=nletter-news

Fear of Economic Income Source: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/04/22/20100422arizona-immigration-bill-hurting-businesses.html

http://www.rasmussenreports.com

http://www.azcentral.com

http://www.azfamily.com