Arizona's new immigration enforcement law doesn't take effect for another six weeks, but the state is seeing early signs of what impact it could have on its more than 400,000 illegal aliens. School districts are reporting an increased number of students being pulled out, and retail businesses that typically cater to illegal aliens are seeing a decrease in profits.
According to a report by USA Today, the Balsz Elementary School District, which has a 75% Hispanic population had 75 students pulled out since the laws passage. Over the same time frame last year, only seven students were pulled out.
Co-founder of the Latin Association for Arizona says businesses that serve Hispanic communities are seeing a drop in profits, meaning Hispanics are either saving their money for a future move or have already left the state.
In 2007, Arizona passed one of the nation's toughest workplace enforcement laws, requiring all businesses, public and private, to verify all new employees through E-Verify. After the law was passed, estimates from the Department of Homeland Security indicated a drop of 100,000 people to the state's illegal alien population.
It is unknown whether the state is truly seeing the impact of Arizona's immigration enforcement law or feeling the effects of a still sour economy. Analysts say the true impact of the new law won't be known until later this year when school districts are required to submit their enrollment numbers.
View a list of municipalities that have voted to boycott Arizona.
