2006- Year of Prosperity and Prejudice
2006 may very well be the year that the U.S. Economy reached it’s zenith. As the U.S. economy reached new heights, American Leaders plotted against the migrant/ immigrants that made the prosperity possible. Anti-immigration legislation started popping up and hard working people were forced to take to the streets to voice their opposition. The largest rallies ever on this continent were organized by pro-migrant supporters. Jaws dropped across this hemisphere as the new face of “American” society took to the streets to demand dignity and respect.
The government’s response was to shift its immigration enforcement into hyper-drive. ICE Agents started raiding businesses from sea to shining sea. Environmental laws were shelved to make way for hundreds of miles of new border fencing. Arizona implemented an Employer Sanctions Law that was meant to drive migrants out of the state. Hate crimes against migrants escalated. And the U.S. Economy tanked.
It is interesting to note that the four states that were experiencing the fasted growth in 2006, Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada, are now absorbing the brunt of the housing collapse. In Tucson, AZ, leasing agents are struggling to fill empty apartments in complexes that were always full, and the City of Tucson Government is facing a budget crisis. Also, Arizona businesses are shutting down and moving outside the state due to immigration red tape. The City of Vallejo, California was forced to file for bankruptcy protection. A CITY WENT BANKRUPT! Farmers from San Diego, California are finding it easier to rent land in Mexico and “import” their produce into the U.S. rather than dealing with immigration restrictions. What a mess!
