Immigrants are exiting in throngs the Reed Park neighborhood in Mesa, Arizona, leaving homes behind and a ghost town of what was once a bustling Latino barrio. The Arizona Republic reports on what might be one of the first real indicators of the effects of local immigration crackdowns:

Already struggling with blight, the Reed Park area near Gilbert and Broadway roads is taking another hit as undocumented immigrants leave the neighborhood, pressured by the state’s employer-sanctions law, stricter immigration enforcement and a sagging economy.

There is no reliable data on just how many immigrants have left Mesa in the past year, but there are other indicators: vacant houses and apartments, a sharp drop in business at stores that cater to Latinos, and a decline in attendance at churches and schools.

The Republic reports that rent prices in the area have plummeted in an effort to attract more tenants, and some landlords are even offering free rent. In addition, local businesses catering to Latinos are suffering as immigrants leave the area.

Via / Arizona Republic