Even with Boycotts from California, Texas, Michigan Hitting AZ, Illegal Immigration Savings for State Is Potentially in the Billions
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on May 18, 2010
The boycotts that other states have decided to launch against Arizona for its illegal immigration law may not be as dire as liberal lobbying groups and Democrat politicians had predicted and hoped for.
Despite the state potentially losing between $7 and $52 million from canceled government contracts (the city of San Francisco was the first to ban city travel to the state, which begs the question: how many SF city officials, from a bankrupted city, had a legitimate reason to travel to Arizona on business, anyway?) and other sundry boycott efforts, the savings in welfare entitlements that Arizona won’t be shelling out is estimated to be in the billions per year.
Another factor that is not yet known is the grassroots BUYcott effort under way in the country… American citizens who are canceling vacations to California to instead visit Arizona (the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead are awesome, by the way, and the cost of living here is far better than that of Cali), citizens who want to help Arizona out financially by buying goods and services from the vilified state. It’s not known yet how much lost revenue could be recouped, how many unanticipated dollars will be pumped in as patriotic Americans rally to support Arizona. Another unknown is any new convention business coming from sympathetic state governments that have not done much or any business with Arizona in the past, but may feel compelled or determined to do so now.
Heck, all the money spent by Arizona to repair, clean, replace all the vandalized city and state government property from the violent pro-illegal alien protests should drop dramatically once illegals leave the state (as so many have told reporters they will) or are arrested/deported. Funny how none of them, from what I’ve seen and read, are even considering taking the steps to becoming legal US citizens or getting work permits/green cards.
BUYcott Arizona… click here for ways to support Arizona.
From FOX News, Cost of Illegal Immigration Rising Rapidly in Arizona, Study Finds:
Arizona’s illegal immigrant population is costing the state’s taxpayers even more than once thought — a whopping $2.7 billion, according to researchers at the public interest group that helped write the state’s new immigration law.
Researchers at FAIR – The Federation for American Immigration Reform — released data exclusively to FoxNews.com that show a steady cost climb in multiple areas, including incarceration, education and health, in the last five years.
FAIR’s cost estimates – compiled for a comprehensive national immigration report it plans to release next month – include several new cost areas, including welfare and the justice system, that weren’t in previous reports.
FAIR admits that the cost to implement the new law in some of those categories, such as incarceration, will add to the economic strain on the state. But overall, it says, the loss of immigrants either from the deterrent effect of the law, voluntary exodus or from mass deportations, will help the state financially.
Also, the savings to the state will far overwhelm any fallout from boycotts (estimated at between $7 million and $52 million) being threatened in the wake of the law’s passage, according to FAIR spokesman Bob Dane.
FAIR’s new breakdown shows that illegal immigrants take $1.6 billion from Arizona’s education system, $694.8 million from health care services , $339.7 million in law enforcement and court costs, $85.5 million in welfare costs and $155.4 million in other general costs.
The organization concedes that enforcing Arizona SB1070, the new law that allows local police to ask for immigration documents and arrest those who don’t have them, will increase the state’s incarceration costs, police training budgets and prosecution expenses — but it says those numbers can’t yet be estimated with certainty. Also, it says, some of those costs will be offset by revenues from fines levied against businesses charged with knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, as well as from immigrants themselves who might be charged with minor crimes and fined before being deported.
Here’s some Wisconsin correspondences about the boycott efforts to hurt Arizona and about counter-boycott efforts to help Arizona… I’ve included both the “Wisconsin should be just like California and boycott Arizona” slamming and the “Wisconsin should support Arizona” stuff… from what I can see, Wisconsin is strong-minded on both sides of the illegal alien issue:
From Blaska’s Blog, Isthmus, The Daily Page:
Later this week, the squire of the stately manor is attending a neighborhood celebration honoring a milestone achievement: an immigrant friend of ours has become a naturalized citizen of the United States of America!
As did my great-great grandfather 156 years ago. That is a common bond we as Americans share. Excuse me, past tense: once shared.
Meanwhile, let’s all make travel plans for Arizona because …
Next up on the political correctness parade: a resolution by the Madison Common Council prohibiting city government travel to or business with the apostate state of Arizona. That state — plagued by drug running, kidnapping, and violence fueled by illegal immigration — is doing what the federal government cannot do — secure the safety of its citizenry.
On May 13, Madison Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff copied her colleagues on her response to this e-mail:
Subject: FW: Alders: Care to cut ties with Arizona like LA just did?
Dear Nathan,
Thank you for your email. I am already in the process of writing a resolution that encompasses AZ related statements and other immigration related points. A number of my fellow alders have already expressed support for such a resolution. I will make sure to share it with you once it is ready. I plan to have it ready for the June 2 City Council agenda. Respectfully,
Shiva Bidar-Sielaff
District 5 AlderA former alderman resorts to common sense
The proposed boycott resolution prompted the following comment from former Ald. Dorothy Borchardt on May 15:
Alder Bidar-Sielaff,
You certainly aren’t an illegal immigrant, not supporting yourself and looking for a handout, or involved in criminal activity.
America is made up of immigrants that came to the USA for the opportunity to improve their life, pay their own way and be proud Americans!
Since you are so concerned about the plight of the illegal immigrant please consider organizing a ban on travel to Mexico and rallies protesting the conditions that make their citizens risk their lives in leaving Mexico and cross the border illegally. Why do they come here and rally against America? Why not rally in Mexico?
My family went to Mexico every couple of years because of the climate, the Mexican people and the convenience of travel. We will NOT be going to Mexico again. I’m sharing our decision with all of our friends in the hopes that they do the same.
I certainly hope you reconsider sponsoring a resolution to ban travel and trade with Arizonian and do something to make life better for the people of Mexico so they aren’t.
Dorothy passes along a message she received from Chuck Cole, former deputy chief of police for Madison.
If cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have thrown down the gauntlet on this issue, then my response would be this: Let’s create our own form of economic retribution to show respect for the citizens of Arizona, their State government, and their right to control their own destiny. I would encourage all of you to forward this e-mail to as many people as you can with the hope that they will pass it forward as well.
My request is simple, boycott the cities that boycott Arizona. Do not make travel or vacation plans to those destinations (Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc.) or spend money for goods or services that are located in any of those cities.
Let them feel the pain of their own game of trying to strong arm citizens of a sovereign State. If states join in the boycott, apply the same strategy to them. In the coming weeks, perhaps we can create a powerful voice of thousands that will show support for Arizona and cause the outsiders that oppose the law to rethink their strategy. If they truly believe that the Arizona law is unconstitutional, then they should work within our judicial system to make that determination.
Dorothy adds:
In addition, I will not vacation in Mexico as long as the Mexican government ignores the needs of their citizens, supports them crossing the border illegally, and our taxpayers picking up the tab.
Where is the next governor on this?
Confused by third-party accounts of where Scott Walker stands on the illegal immigration issue? Here is a statement provided by his campaign for governor Saturday afternoon:
I sympathize with the people of Arizona who are victimized by violence, crime and property damage as a result of illegal immigration. After speaking this morning with the sponsor of the new law in Arizona, State Senator Russell Pearce, I’m satisfied that the amended bill provides adequate protections against racial profiling and discrimination. A police officer may only inquire about the immigration status of persons they have stopped, detained, or arrested for other reasons.
In addition, earlier decisions by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals satisfy my concern about any conflicts with the 10th Amendment. If I were Governor of Arizona, I too would sign the Arizona immigration bill.
As Governor of Wisconsin, I will sign legislation that strengthens our protection against illegal immigration and ensures that taxpayer funded benefits like Badger Care and drivers licenses are not available to those who are here illegally.
God bless you, Dorothy.
Additional reading:
Jammie Wearing Fool: Another of Obama’s Clowns Admits he Hasn’t Read SB 1070
The Cypress Times: ARIZONA UNDER SEIGE; TEA PARTIES RALLY TO HELP
Moe Lane, RedState: San Diego to Arizona: “Look, just because we called you racist bigots…”
Michelle Malkin: Stand with Arizona and The slaughter on the southern border and Whose country is it, anyway? and Cleaning up our trashed border and Update on Arizona rancher Robert Krentz murder case
Frugal Café Blog Zone: LA Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns: Los Angeles’ Wrathful AZ Boycott, Lakers Avoid AZ Illegal Immigration Politics… Plus, Remembering the Deaths of 4-Year-Old Josie Bluhm & Chandra Levy and NBC News Stunned: Its Own Poll Shows Support of Arizona’s Illegal Immigration Law Now Up to 64 Percent… Mexican Constitution Forbids Non-citizens from Political Events Participation (video) and Media Covering Up That Majority of Americans Support Arizona’s Illegal Immigration Law, More States Considering Adopting AZ Law and “Viva Los 1070″ vs. “Los Suns” — Phoenix Suns Security Hassles Business Man to Remove Pro-AZ Illegal Immigration Law Shirt He Wore to Suns Game and American Flag Banned at California School… Students sent Home for Wearing US Flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon Teams Up with Rev. Sharpton to Protest SB1070, Only 25% of Americans Support Illegal Alien Protesters, Majority of Americans Still Favor AZ Illegal Immigration Law and FOX News: AZ Governor Jan Brewer Interview on Controversial Illegal Immigration Law (video) and Ann Coulter on AZ Illegal Immigration Law: Liberals Are Hysterical & Lying About Contents of Law (video)
Gateway Pundit: Arizona Utilities Rep Invites LA to Continue Boycott on Arizona & Watch Their Lights Go Out and Like Holder… Janet Napolitano Rejects Arizona Immigration Law She Hasn’t Read and LA Mayor Villaraigosa Is a Dope… Illegal Immigration Costs Billions & Arizona Law Will Bring Down Costs and Figures. Miss Oklahoma Places Second in Miss America Contest After Saying She’d Support Arizona Immigration Law (Video) and Despite Harsh Words From Obama & Chavez… Americans Broadly Support Arizona Immigration Law and Unreal. Lib Media Outraged That Arizona Will Ban Classes That “Promote Overthrow of US Government” and Hundreds of Hispanic Students Leave School & Hold March Demanding Respect and Students Kicked Out of School For Wearing American Flag Shirts on Cinco de Mayo and Nice. Anti-Arizona Protesters Spray Paint “Burn This Racist City” On Phoenix Sidewalks (Video) and It Has Begun… Vandals Smear Refried Bean Swastikas on Arizona State Capitol and 59% of Americans Still Favor Arizona’s Immigration Legislation and VIOLENT LEFTISTS WIELDING TORCHES Riot, Smash Windows, Burn a Coffee House After Immigration Protest… Media Silent and Immigrants Carry “Death to US Imperial-Fascists” At NYC May Day Rally… Media Silent and Patriot Groups Will Kickoff National Arizona BUYcott at Winning Back America Conference
Nice Deb: We’re Apologizing to CHINA Now For AZ Immigration Law? and Video: AZ Gov. Jan Brewer Hits Back At Obama + Related Links and Video: Protests In AZ Getting Increasingly Ugly – Where’s MSM? and Can We All Agree That There’s Nothing More Nazi Than Saying ‘Show Me Your Papers’?
Phoenix Fanster, The Hub: SB1070 fallout now affecting HS Girls Basketball?
Founding Bloggers: Progressive Supporters Of Human Smuggling Turn Violent In California
Ace of Spades HQ: Working on Our Democracy?
On My Watch – The Writings of SamHenry: UCLA Professor Declares La Raza Revolution Against Capitalism and Imperialism
Examiner: Illegal aliens protest, though Americans would be jailed, deported if they protested in Mexico
About the author
WOW, that is good Boycott Mexico. iF YOU WANT TO HELP Mexicans. I have another one for YOu. Go Live in Mexico and Run for office to help the illegals.
I SUPPORT ARIZONA. Upholding and enforcing Federal Law, and Taking Leadership on this Issue to Give Other States Courage.
However Arizona is not A Sovereign State. The 10th Amendment Alone Does not Make a State Sovereign, neither does enforcing Federal laws already on the Books.
Arizona like other States gave over their Sovereignty to the Incorporate Doctrine. And claiming 10 will not eliminate Contracts under the Incorporate Doctrine. Only under the Incorporate Doctrine could White Priviledge of Only Whites as Senators and Governors Exist. So they Traded the Bill of Rights and now are Grasping on to the 10th. But the Founders made the State Sovereign with the COMPLETE Bill of Rights. Not one Amendment. And Evidently States Know they have turned over 1-9! Therefore Arizona created the illegal problem as all White Senate elected by all White people. And they need to clean up their mess, they gave up the Bill of Rights for. See people know all they had to ask for is a child birth certificate when the illegals bought them to school. And Arizona ignore phoney and foreign birthcertificates like other states, which would prove their parents to be illegals. See as long as Blacks suffered from the impact it was quite alright. Now they kill White Ranchers and Cops, along with Blacks. Now States want to Act like they have some Constiuttional Understanding of who Citizens are.
Thank you for your support of AZ, Marlene, but as a resident of AZ for more than 30 years, I must correct you on several of your last points.
Arizona has been fighting for illegal immigration control and border security for DECADES. It wasn’t “OK” as you put it for blacks to be killed, and then when cops and Robert Krentz was killed in March, they acted upon the illegal immigration problem in the last few weeks… I don’t know who told you that, but it sounds racist and it is false.
No, until Jan Brewer became our governor, very little has been done to secure the borders or to effectively fight against the infiltration of illegal aliens, despite the outcry from AZ citizens. Especially from those citizens who live in border cities – the drug wars and illegal alien crossings have increased in the past 10 years. In 2007, a controversial law was signed to fine and/or arrest employers who knowingly hired illegal aliens – the riots in Phoenix and neighboring areas that broke out on that from illegal alien supporters was horrific.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been under federal attack for over a year now (thanks to Napolitano and Gordon) because he has dared to try to stop the flood of illegal aliens coming into Maricopa County. Minority lobbyist groups like La Raza get a huge amount of votes for Democrats, so Mayor Phil Gordon is a happy recipient of votes and donated campaign dollars – La Raza expects a lot in return. So are many reps through the state. Pinal County has had a terrible time with crime from illegal immigration, but our border patrols are understaffed, the wall is not finished (Napolitano went through the motions of that, had no intention, IMO, of actually finishing it), and federal help has not happened — despite many requests over the years. Sen. McCain is acting very concerned about security in Arizona these days, but that wasn’t his attitude just a few months back.
I’m not sure what this means that you wrote: Now States want to Act like they have some Constiuttional Understanding of who Citizens are.
If you think illegal aliens are citizens, you’re woefully mistaken, Marlene. Or maybe you meant something else but I’m just not grasping it.
I am not familiar with the Incorporate Doctrine and how it applies to the Tenth Amendment. Please elaborate.
I do not believe in Boycott Arizona, it will in return hurt Michigan, And michigan does
not need any boycott in returned. We have already lost alot of jobs.
Arizona has the right to protect the state, The ones that just came over, sent them back.
Instead blaming Arizona, Question I would ask why isn’t MEXICO doing more in that
country for there citizen.
GOD BLESS AMERICA, CONSTITUTION OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
i AM FROM TEXAS AND I SURE AS HELL DO NOT SUPPORT ANY BOYCOTT OF ARIZONA-Many like me are making that clear to our elected officals down in Austin.
Cities like Austin, Houston, and El Paso are hubs of libralisam-yea we got that in the Lone Star State-we try and keep them isolated to those sewers! Many Texas are pushing that this be handled in 2011 and we follow Arizona
Don’t lump us in with those people on the left coast-that’s not even funny!
BOYCOTT CALIFORNIA! I AM BOYCOTTING AUSTIN BECUASE THEY WON’T SUPPORT ARIZONA!
Im in Texas and I full y agree with you my fellow Texan! Im a FORMER Californian (The land of the fruits and nuts) but a NATIVE Arizonan! Go AZ!
and by the way…Im a FUTURE Michigander! And I tell you Ive got friends there none of them support boycotting AZ. Listen up you phony self serving politicians, get your act together or we the people will vote you OUT!
Boycotting all products and goods originating from California and encouraging all I know to not vacation in California.