| The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perspective of construction industry employers in Pima County, Arizona concerning the impact of the state's immigration laws. The analysis of the researcher-designed survey of 21 employers representing various construction trades highlighted themes from four clusters of focus that influence hiring practices. The four focus areas included attitudes toward immigrant workers, attitudes toward hiring undocumented workers, effects of the E-Verify mandate, and perceived strategic effects. Themes from the focus on attitudes toward immigrant workers included: (a) sense of justice is strong, (b) external influences affect attitudes, and (c) religious guidance and state laws are minor considerations. The focus on attitudes toward hiring undocumented workers highlighted three themes: (a) the reputation of the employer's company is critical, (b) influence of some factors fluctuates, and (c) there are cultural moderations to the concept of "protecting American jobs." Focusing on the effects of the E-Verify mandate revealed acceptance of the law's mandate is not total. Themes that emerged from the final focus area of perceived strategic effects included: (a) the positive changes brought by the laws, (b) the negative effects of the mandates, and (c) the strategic effects of a loss of the undocumented labor pool. The research is important to business leaders and state legislators who bring a variety of perspectives to the question of immigration reform. The study also intended to raise awareness of the need for comprehensive federal immigration reform. |
