Illegals Rushing to Texas

Indications are that illegal aliens are leaving states where immigration laws are now enforced and Texas is a favored destination. Imagine that.

[A] new rush of illegal immigrants are driving down Interstate 35 from Oklahoma or heading east to Texas from Arizona to flee tough new anti-illegal immigrant laws in those and other states.

Though few numbers are available because illegal residents are difficult to track, community activists say immigrants have arrived in Houston and Dallas in recent months, and they expect hundreds more families to relocate to the Bayou City soon.

"They're really tightening the screws," said Mario Ortiz, an undocumented Mexican worker who came to Houston after leaving Phoenix last year. "There have been a lot coming -- it could be 100 a day."

All the information, so far, regarding this trend is anecdotal and, frankly, I don't think it's very meaningful. All it means is that the illegal population is mobile within the U.S. and they will move to more accommodating areas. Nevertheless, it does appear to prove that enforcing the laws has a positive effect.

Even so, a more preferable trend would be for the illegals to consider their home nations to be more accommodating and return. Then they could get in line to immigrate legally like thousands of others do. They would also pass the word that the U.S. is no longer easy pickings for border jumpers and deter others from taking the risk.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.