PRESCOTT VALLEY - It is an exodus Sam Rodriguez is very familiar with.
The president of the Tri-City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce knows illegal immigrants are moving to states where they can find a job without worrying about anti-illegal immigrant laws.
"They come and say goodbye to me before they go," he said.
Rodriguez said immigrants are leaving Arizona and other states with tough laws for states that welcome them, such as Texas.
Arizona law prohibits businesses from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
Rodriguez believes it will come back to haunt employers.
"When the economy comes back, they're going to be looking for workers and they aren't going to find them," he said.
Rodriguez estimates that he has lost about 50 family clients at his insurance business.
"It's a pretty good chunk of people that have left the area," he said.
Gary Hudder, president of the Yavapai County Contractors Association board of directors, said that to his knowledge, no members have suffered from the illegal immigrants departing the area at this time.
Hudder believes the slowdown in the construction sector has skewed the magnitude of the illegal immigrants departing the area.
"It's a situation where it's going to find its own level and it's going to sort itself out," he said.
Representatives of the local chambers said this week that their members do not have much to say on the issue.
"I think you're still a little early in the process," chief executive officer of the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce Ab Jackson said.
Prescott Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Dave Maurer said he is having a hard time judging the impact of the state's new anti-immigrant employment laws because business owners are not talking to him about it.
Rodriguez blames some businesses for using the slowing economy as an excuse to fire illegal immigrants and forcing them away.
Those employees are looking for full-time work, according to Rodriguez.
"It's other states that are welcoming that additional labor force," he said. "I'm trying to tell them to hang in there, but it's tough."
Contact the reporter at jsoifer@prescottaz.com
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Article comment by:
clotters_78
What would you do if you were an illegal immigrant?
Posted: Monday, February 11, 2008
Article comment by:
AUTISM_MOM433
LIKE WE SAY HERE IN ARIZONA HELLO NOW GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM IT ABOUT TIME WE GET REED OF THE MEXICANS
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
frank l kinney
mr.rodriguez, americans need jobs and security too! for this reason we must secure them of this chance. everyone has had there way with cheap labor for so long that its changed our system! now they must play the labor game right and get american workers and to do this offer higher wages to meet this labor demaned! thats how wages go up instead of down! because of so many illegal immigrants dig it! spread the wealth and profits into the community and this makes a better community for which all to live in. the illegal way its profit for the owner period! yeah businesses profit landlords profit but not citys and tax payers in this illegal book making racket!michigan little big horn. amen. constitution party.com ballot access news website, www.ballot please support america.
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
FED UP
I think the key word here is "illegal" They don't belong here regardless. However they can come to our country and expect us to change our ways of life because they're here. If you want to protest then by all means go back to Mexico and protest there. I find it pretty pathetic that U.S. citizens have to pay for their own health care, pay taxes, and "illegals" can come over here and get it for free. You want to come to the U.S. then do it the right way. Don't just hop a fence and then complain about our country. If it so bad then as I said before, go back! Could I go to Mexico and act like they do here? Absolutely not. I think what a lot of people don't understand is that most of them come here, make money, then go back to Mexico. The money is not circulating in the U.S. So how is this beneficial to our country? It's not. Yes could employers hire them for cheaper wages? Sure. But I think that most people such as myself are sick and tired of hearing about how mistreated they are. Why don't we focus on protecting ourselves, the people who did do it the right way, rather than this liberal ideal of let's be nice to everybody. If they don't belong here then I would be more than willing to see my tax dollars sending them back, rather than my money going to their free health care, when myself and everybody else have to pay for theirs, but I guess they're the ones who have it rough huh?
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
Thinkaboutit
The wages paid in AZ are minimum wages. There are no good jobs in AZ. The job market is Room Clerks, Burger Flippers, Service Jobs, and Retirement and the Retires die within 10 to 15 years. It does makes a good Undertaker market. The Public schools in AZ are number 50 out of 50 states and the whole State is ranked the Dumbest state in the USA. How do you expect these people to get a high paying job? Unless the Education system is turned around it will remain in the bottom rungs of Pay.You need to research this if you think this is incorrect. I would think about the problem and how to solve it.
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
Horace
Employers in Arizona, in an effort to reduce costs, gradually replaced citizens from their employment, driving them into other occupations or out of state. What's more is the wages they now offer won't attract any citizen who is use to a higher standard of living than illegal aliens. Now these employers are looking to these same people to bail them out, all the while claiming that they can't find help. Their former employees aren't at their beck and call and won't just magically appear in an instant. Let them go out of business, as they are well deserving of that fate.
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
Adam Hallett
So does this have anything to do with Chris Simcox and the chapter of his group that he was planning to start in Prescott? It's a pitty if it did because he is hardly ethical.
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
Kate
The key word in all this is "illegal". Mr. Sam Rodriguez and his opinions/allegations are really very silly and he should be ashamed for not providing his lost clients with better counsel.
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
bogie_dennis54
I recently moved here but I am no stranger to Arizona.
Now I would like a block fence built but no one can do it. They claim the illegal immigrants built block fences and they all left town.
So now I am waiting for all those workers who's jobs were taken by illegals.
I think the wait will be very long.
This was not a well thought idea. IMHO
IF we wanted to stop illegals into this country why did we wait until 11 million were here to do something? EVERYONE in this state has always known illegals were crossing the border.
Politicians have made this an issue IMHO.
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
Patrick
Jason - Mr. Rodrigues has "lost about 50 family clients at his insurance business". Mr. Rodrigues is hardly an unbiased voice. People like him that have been benefiting financially from illegal immigration are always going to be in favor of it. This whole article should be in the opinion section. I see no hard news being reported here.
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
washdweller
Why is there an Hispanic Chamber of Commerce? Why not an English, Irish, German, Chamber of Commerce? Isn't this America? Hispanic Chamber should be in Mexico. Having different Chambers based on race or nationality promotes racial division. Any organization that excludes or appears to exclude is divisive and promotes separation.
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
earl s.
My opinions not mixed. Adios!, come back when we know who you really are!
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
Dan S.
OMG! "... Rodriguez blames some businesses for using the slowing economy as an excuse to fire illegal immigrants and forcing them away". An "excuse"? If a slowing economy is not a legitimate foundation for firing workers, what is? Is this supposed to impart some sense of obligation toward providing work, even when there is no logical basis for such work? LEGAL residents are being fired and forced away because of the slowing economy, too. To whom do the State's businesses actually have a primary obligation? All I am certain about is that since the new laws went into effect, Help Wanted ads for workers in the local Labor Market have increased. And now, I have fulltime employment. The issue of whether or not it is with a liveable wage is another matter.
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
voice from texas
If employers need workers please contact the Michigan unemployment dept...We have a number of umemployed in Michigan....
As far as Texas wanting illegal I think Sam Rodriguez should of told the truth to the illegals. The U.S. only want legal immigrants and that includes TEXAS...Mr. Rodriguez should of told the illegals to go home and enter the United States the correct and legal way. That anyone breaking the law only pays in the end...Mr. Sam Rodriguez support for illegals has only cost their people..
Mr. Rodriguez maybe it would be better if you started talking to these illegals that you know and let them know how they can go back to their homeland and inprove their country..
My question to Mr.Sam Rodriguez is wouldn't be nice to have a good neighbor to the south like we have in Canada?
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
amjr
Doesn't an insurance application require a SSN?
Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008
Article comment by:
Tomuchforme
After the November elections there will be a big change, the wild eyed Republicana will be out of office and The Dems will have a Veto proof majority. 13 Republicans have seen the light and are nopt running for reelection. Hate to tell you racist that per the ASU Prof. only 7% of the immagrantes are illegal. 78% of US citizens think that children of the undocumented that graduate fron high schools should have legal residency, per the US Supreme Court they have the right to thier education. Did you know that? Sorry you are digging your graves. Per the Feds in 2025 the Lationos will be the majority in the USA. If you are lucky the Republicans will be max 5% of congres, and hopefully the Latinios will not treat you as you have treated them.
You Racist are to much for me. Any ?? do a little research if you can.
