Bloomberg BusinessWeek (02/14/12) Elizabeth Dwoskin

Alabama’s new strict immigration law has not had the effect its backers anticipated. Thousands of immigrants have left the state, but unemployed Alabamians are not taking on the jobs left behind, and employers are struggling to fill the jobs. A new study published by the Center for Business & Economic Research at the University of Alabama shows the economic impact of strict immigration laws such as the ones passed by Alabama and five other states. The law will likely annually shrink Alabama’s economy by at least $2.3 billion and cost the state about 70,000 jobs, mostly due to reduced demand for goods and services provided by Alabama businesses frequented by immigrants.