The controversial Arizona law, SB 1070, may be having an effect on the state’s Latino population. According to a study released this week in Mexico City, there are as many as 100,000 fewer Latinos residing in the state since before the debate over the law began.
The study did not differentiate whether people were leaving because of the new law, which was signed by the governor in April and went into effect over the summer,or for economic reasons. Arizona is experiencing one of the nation’s highest rates of foreclosure in the country and has seen a significant decline in its construction industry.
Overall, the slowing US economy has impacted Mexico as well with fewer opportunities for immigrant labor across the US, and remittances sent home from these workers has declined in recent years.
Law suits filed against Arizona have kept some of the more controversial parts of the law from taking effect. The state is appealing this ruling.
According to the 2008 US Census, 30% of the state of Arizona, or 1.9 million people, are Hispanic.
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