Arizona Was Once Tolerant of Illegal Immigrations. What Happened?

ANALYSTS SUGGEST IT WAS A PERFECT STORM OF DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS, A SCARY CRIMINAL ELEMENT, THE RECESSION AND NEW GOVERNOR.

Los Angeles Times: Arizona has made a name for itself as the state with the harshest policies against illegal immigration. But as few as six years ago, this border state was among the nation's most welcoming of illegal immigrants. Back then, its two Republican U.S. senators and one of its congressmen were among the strongest advocates of legalizing millions of illegal residents in the country. Mexico was the state's largest trading partner, and the governor boasted of her warm relationships with counterparts across the border. Both political parties courted the Latino vote. Now the state government is fighting an order by a federal judge who last week stayed key parts of a law, SB 1070, designed to drive illegal immigrants from Arizona. How did things change so quickly? "The perfect storm occurred," said Mesa Mayor Scott Smith. "There was a combination of demographic changes, the introduction of a criminal element that didn't used to be here and the drop in the economy, which has put everyone on edge."