Way back in 2005, we told you about a market phenomenon that was occurring as a result of increased Latino immigration: more taxicabs. Back then, it seemed that the reason for the boom in taxis in cities like Houston, Texas, was the fact that many newly arrived immigrants don’t have cars. Now the phenomenon has repeated itself in Georgia, and locals point to a more compelling reason: harsher laws are driving some to avoid driving for fear of being picked up and deported.

In the past month, taxicab companies have seen an increase in business by as much as 30 percent — a direct result, owners say, of a new law enforcement initiative targeting immigration violations.

The initiative, a local-federal partnership known as 287(g), was implemented in April by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. It allows detention officers to begin deportation proceedings for any arrestee who is brought to the county jail and determined to be in the country illegally.

Sheriff Steve Cronic has said that the initiative has already cut down on the number of arrests for common traffic offenses such as driving without a license.

Some cab drivers in Gainesville are saying that the effect of the law has been such that traffic has been notably reduced on freeways, as more immigrants choose to cab it over driving.

Via / Gainesville Times