Is attrition working in Oklahoma? (Arizona too?)

If states and cities enforce immigration laws to the extent that they're able, will that reduce the numbers of illegal aliens in those localities? Of course, one of the stock false choices that politicians and others offer is between massive deportations and a massive amnesty; they rarely acknowledge attrition, although the New York Times begrudgingly was forced to do so recently. And, attrition seems to be working in Oklahoma:

Thousands of Hispanics have fled the Tulsa, Okla., area in the shadow of a looming state law that limits benefits and mandates deportation for illegal aliens, according to a report from KTUL television in Tulsa.

The state of Oklahoma recently approved a new law that requires deportation for illegal aliens who are arrested, and limits benefits and jobs to those individuals. The report said in East Tulsa, where a community of Hispanics has grown over recent years, there's been a sudden drop in population...

Of course, these could be scare tactics from supporters of illegal immigration; note that those claiming the drop in population probably have an axe to grind and that they're refering to "Hispanics" and not illegal aliens, which is probably an attempt to racialize the issue.

UPDATE: Bearing in mind that such reports have to be taken with a grain of salt, Daniel Gonzalez of the Arizona Republic offers "Migrants fleeing as hiring law nears". He says:

based on interviews with undocumented immigrants, immigrant advocates, community leaders and real-estate agents, at least several hundred have left since Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano signed the [employer sanctions] bill on July 2

That bill will take affect on January 1; note that one of those "advocates" or "leaders" is Elias Bermudez of Immigrants Without Borders, thus the grain of salt.

Immigration2007b · Sat, 08/25/2007 - 10:24 · · Importance: 1