Boycott grounds Aeromexico flights to Az; Mexico issues travel alert

An official with the Mexican government has advised citizens not to travel to Arizona in the wake of the state's tough, new immigration law.

Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S., tweeted that Mexicans should steer clear of the state, now that police are required to check immigration status of anyone they reasonably suspect of being an illegal immigrant.

"The Mexican Government has just issued a Travel Advisory recommending Mexicans not to travel to Arizona on business or pleasure."

A call to boycott the state may already be having an effect.

Aeromexico said it is suspending flights to Phoenix and Tucson due to a “significant” fall in demand generated largely by the new law, reports Thaindian News.

CEO Andres Conesa told a news conference that the anti-immigrant law passed in Arizona had significantly affected the air traffic between Mexico and the state. The airline subsequently decided to suspend or cancel a number of flights.

Conesa said a non-stop flight between Mexico City and Phoenix has been suspended. Only flights from Hermosillo in the Mexican state of Sonora are arriving in Phoenix, at a lower frequency than before.

Other businesses and organizations have responded to calls for boycotts.

An attorney's convention scheduled for Phoenix this fall already has been canceled, according to the Arizona Republic

The American Immigration Lawyers Association will move its convention. The group faces a $92,000 cancellation penalty.

"I think it will be really easy for someone to pass us over on a convention decision now," Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, which has been trying to promote Arizona as a good place to do business, told the Republic.

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera urged his city to stop dealing with Arizona and Arizona businesses.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, who is against the law, told San Francisco officials such drastic steps would hit the wrong people.

"Calling for a boycott now would hurt immigrants and residents who depend on the revenue for their own employment," Gordon said on MercuryNews.com. "We are fighting it in court and are confident it will never be implemented."

Some Facebook pages have sprung up on both sides of the boycott issue. Boycott Arizona 2010's first target is the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"A targeted boycott should be launched immediately to show the economic power of our community, and we can participate right in our own communities. Boycott the Arizona Diamondbacks NOW!" the group's page says.

Don't Boycott AZ Tourism, set up by the Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association, says any boycott will hurt those that boycott supporters want to help.

"The tourism industy is AZ's largest employer of minorities. Of all industries - why attack the one whose (sic) doing it right?" says the Facebook page.