by Anna Otieno
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- Like many communities, Irving, TX, has seen an increase in undocumented immigrants. A local law passed in 2007, allowing police to conduct immigration checks on everyone they arrest, is dividing the community, pitting Latinos and retail businesses on one side, advocates of strict immigration enforcement on the other, and the mayor in the middle.
- The Dallas suburb enacted the policy to get rid of dangerous criminals who are in the country illegally.
- But many of the 4,000 Irving residents who have been referred to the federal authorities are facing potential deportation due to minor offenses like driving without a license (NYTimes.com 4.4.09).
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- Immigrants and the businesses that employ and sell to them are bearing the brunt of frustrated citizens. While some people support a hardline approach, others are less than content and even confused by the policy transitions.
- The promise of the Obama administration to support an overhaul of immigration policy is a welcome, but thorny, development, as the economy continues to reel under the recession.
RESOURCES
