By Daniel Griswold, director, Center for Trade Policy Studies
If I were a Mexican tourist, or a legal Hispanic immigrant, I would certainly think twice about visiting Arizona.
The new immigration law in Arizona is more an expression of anger than smart public policy. The law will do nothing to reduce crime, spur the economy, or create jobs in Arizona.
The new law distracts law officers from apprehending real criminals. Instead, police will be forced to make impossible judgment calls on who might look to be illegal.
The state economy will likely suffer from the exodus of workers, and the bad publicity the law will generate. The only constructive answer to illegal immigration is comprehensive reform in Washington. It is time that President Obama and members of Congress from both parties work together to expand opportunities for legal immigration.
