About the Author

Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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Illegal Immigrants Getting Out Fast

February 9th, 2008 • Richard Cochrane
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HOw can we make this work?Strict new laws in OKLAHOMA and ARIZONA against hiring illegal immigrants appear to be achieving their goal of driving undocumented workers out of those states and COLORADO and GEORGIA are getting ready to do the same thing and of course it is against federal law too. But. not everyone is happy. The Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, for instance, estimates that as much as 20 percent of the city’s construction workforce — 15,000 to 20,000 workers — has left the state. Some local businesses have simply shut down for lack of employees the Hispanic Chamber says. Proponents say things will adjust, and those who have “enslaved” workers with below poverty level wages need to be wiped into shape.

The bulk of those leaving are going back to their country of origin but some are headed into neighboring states that are not enforcing the law. According to State Net, 32 states currently have employment sanction measures on their legislative agenda, with more states anticipated to introduce such bills this year. That can create a hodgepodge of often conflicting laws. But, so far the Federal government has not acted and some local laws have been struck down by Federal judges – like the one in Hazleton, Pa.

But, the undeniable fact is that in Oklahoma and Arizona at least something is being done, and that should provoke more action rather than continue the fumbling inactions.

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