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arizona immigration

Mesa's main street feels forlorn. the part that houses the hispanic stores and businesses, that is. the impact of sb1070, the immigration bill passed last year, can be partially measured by looking at the empty strip malls and boarded-up storefronts. this is the backyard of russell pearce, the senator who introduced the bill and who is the public face of the immigration debate in the state. he is proud of this impact, "they're leaving in caravans," he said. but others aren't so thrilled. a recall petition is gaining ground in the neighborhoods, and fellow republican lawmakers are turning their backs on him. it used to be a potential model for how to handle utah's immigration woes. a year later some in mesa are looking at our approach, the utah compact, as something possibly more fitting for their state. the lds church also plays into this story in interesting ways. a great read. here.