JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
The Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, or MIRA, had a robust showing against House Bill 488 at the State Capital Wednesday.
"Let me begin by saying Mary and Joseph were migrants," said Kathy Sykes, who works for MIRA and the NAACP.
Members rallied and held signs at the protest.
They say, as undocumented immigrants are forced out of the state, precious revenue will leave with them.
"There's probably over 200 Latino businesses that are flourishing in Mississippi," said Bill Chandler, MIRA Director. "If they're driven out of Mississippi, that's going to be a tremendous loss. Could lose millions in tax revenue."
Chandler says that's what's happening in Alabama.
That state's new anti-immigration law went into effect in September.
Studies have suggested that Alabama could lose billions of dollars in revenue each year.
But that's a projection.
While thousands of immigrants left Alabama after the law was passed there, reports say they're starting to trickle back.
Supporters of the law believe that thousands of jobs vacated by immigrants who leave, result in thousands of jobs available for those in the state legally.
Brookhaven Representative Becky Currie introduced the bill in Mississippi.
It mirrors Alabama's law.
"I've been in touch with representatives from that state, from their house," said Rep. Currie to WLBT News earlier this month. "Their unemployment rate has dropped 2 percent. There's no rhyme or reason why their unemployment went from 10 percent to 8 percent except the bill has been in place for six months. What we need to look at, we need jobs."
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
Also on WLBT.com:
Bill seeking immigration reform modeled after Alabama
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