Costly exodus: Hispanic firms hurt by HB 1804-related labor drain

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1355718/

Sunday, April 13, 2008; Posted: 11:52 AM

Apr 13, 2008 (Tulsa World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- -- Hispanic business owners in Tulsa say House Bill 1804 is costing them money as some customers and employees -- not all of them in this country illegally -- are leaving the state.

Oklahoma's new immigration law makes it a crime to knowingly hire, house or transport illegal immigrants.

Francisco Trevino, executive director of the Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the businesses that have been hit hardest are those owned by Hispanics which primarily serve other Hispanics.

"Some of those businesses have closed," he said.

Others report losing as much as 60 percent of their sales since the law went into effect last November, Trevino said.

"I don't think all of them are going to be able to survive," he said. "It's pretty devastating."

FULL story at link.