Immigration from Mexico to the United States Declining

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There are indications of a slowdown in the flow of immigrants from Mexico into the United States. Experts say the reasons behind that slowdown go beyond new state laws cracking down on illegal immigration in Georgia, Arizona and elsewhere.

Business owners along Buford Highway in metro Atlanta say they are seeing fewer Hispanic customers in their stores. Some business people say that slowdown is because of a new Georgia law that went into effect on July 1, aimed at stopping illegal immigration. Parts of that law have been blocked from taking effect by a federal judge. Still, business owners say the law is a deterrent to people who are in the country illegally.

New surveys in Mexico and new data from the United States Census show that the number of immigrants from Mexico to this country is declining. One reason for that decline is the economic downturn in the United States, according to Jerry Gonzales of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. In addition, Gonzales points to increased economic opportunities in Mexico and a rise in violence along the Mexican border with the U.S.

The state of Georgia is appealing the judge’s ruling that has blocked part of the new immigration law here to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. Other court challenges have stopped elements of similar immigration laws from taking effect in Arizona, Utah and Indiana.

For more stories from WAGA-TV Fox 5 in Atlanta, Georgia go to myfoxatlanta.com.