HOUSTON (AP) February 4, 2008 —
Undocumented immigrants are coming
into Texas, but not from where one
might think.
The
rush is coming from Arizona,
Oklahoma and other states, places
that recently passed tough anti
immigrant laws.
The
two toughest measures are in Arizona
and Oklahoma.
Effective January 1, the Arizona law
suspended the business license of
employers who knowingly hire
undocumented immigrants. On a second
offense, the license is revoked.
The
Oklahoma statute, which took effect
in November, makes it a crime to
transport, harbor or hire
undocumented immigrants.
Anecdotal information seems to
indicate undocumented
immigrants are leaving these states
in growing numbers.
"They're really tightening the
screws," said Mario Ortiz, an
undocumented Mexican worker who came
to Houston after leaving Phoenix
last year." There have been a lot
coming. It could be 100 a day."
In
Tulsa, Okla., the Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce has estimated 15,000 to
25,000 undocumented immigrants have
left the area. One builder estimated
30 percent of the Hispanic work
force left Tulsa.
"There's been a tremendous impact in
Oklahoma City," said David Castillo,
the executive director of the
Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce. "We've had
several companies close shop and
leave the state. Banks have called
us and say they're closing 30
accounts per week."
Enrique Hubbard, Mexico's consul
general in Dallas, said a dozen
Mexican families from Oklahoma have
applied for consular documents
listing their new homes in the
Dallas area.
Texas' reputation as a welcoming
destination has experts predicting
more immigrants will come to Houston
and other cities in the state. Texas
has not passed a state wide law
targeting the employment of
undocumented immigrants.
"Texas is still very much an
entrepreneurial place where you can
find your place in this economy,"
said James Hollifield, a Southern
Methodist University professor and
migration expert.
Ortiz, a native of he southern
Mexican state of Tabasco, said he
left Phoenix eight months ago after
working 60 to 70 hours a week at a
plant nursery. While now he can only
pick up two to three days a week of
yard work and barely earns enough to
send back to his family, he prefers
Texas to Arizona.
"Here, they let you work. Over
there, they won't. There is a lot of
racism, but here there isn't - it's
better," Ortiz said of Houston.
