Once it was the go to place for illegal immigrants, but all that started changing years ago for California. More than a decade ago, illegal immigrants shifted their preference to Arizona. The result of that is now being felt in the state, prompting it to take drastic measures such as the new law against illegal immigration.

The last 12 years have seen a steady decline in new illegal immigrants to the State of California. There are several key reasons for this. Increased security measure by the border patrol is one of those reasons. Eighteen foot barriers, increased staffing and newer & better access roads to remote areas have all helped to police the border better. But other than the physical barriers another big deterrent has been the financial factor. A deteriorating economy in California has made it harder for illegal immigrants to find jobs in the state. This has been perhaps the most influential factor in the decline of the influx of illegal immigrants.

However, Californian authorities are fearful that the twelve year old trend might be reversed in light of the new Arizona law. They are of the opinion that the new law might prompt illegal immigrants to once again turn towards The Golden State. If that happens, California could face an increase in drug smuggling. Although two-thirds of the Californian border has been covered with fencing and staffing has been boosted to over 3,500 personnel over the years, authorities admit that the border is by no means airtight.