Arizona was once tolerant of illegal immigrants. What happened?

I think this probably was a perfect storm and is certainly headed by Jan Brewer, who became governor when Governor Napolitano left and went to Washington DC. - - Donna Poisl

Analysts suggest it was a perfect storm of demographic shifts, a scary criminal element, the recession and a new governor.

By Anna Gorman and Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Phoenix — 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.
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