The law was signed July 2 by Gov.
Janet Napolitano, a Democrat whose state — with an estimated 500,000
illegal aliens — is the undisputed champion in unlawful
border-crossings. It won't take effect until Jan. 1, 2008, but it
already is having its desired effect, as large numbers of illegals
leave.
The law made it a state crime to hire illegal aliens and requires
all businesses to verify the employment eligibility of workers through
a federal database. The penalty for violators is a 10-day suspension of
their business license on the first offense and permanent revocation on
the second.
"I would say that we are losing at least 100 people a day," Elias
Bermudez, founder of Immigrants Without Borders and host of a radio
talk show aimed at illegal aliens, told the Arizona Republic. That
number is expected to balloon as Jan. 1 nears and the law shuts off the
job magnet attracting illegal workers.
The Arizona Republic report notes that
many illegals are simply packing up and going home to Mexico. Critics
say they'll simply move to other states. But not if other states follow
Arizona's lead.
Certainly the feds are doing their part
with stepped-up enforcement of laws forbidding the hiring of illegals.
Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff recently announced a policy of
more vigorous enforcement. Fines against employers will be raised 25%,
and the department will expand criminal investigations of employers who
knowingly hire large numbers of illegal immigrants.
So, it can be done. At the federal or the state level, when immigration enforcement gets tough, illegal aliens get going.