Will patriotism or capitalism win out in the new war on illegal immigration?

Battleground Arizona passed legislation this week to thwart illegal immigration at the cost of big business.

"State officials are seeking to curb illegal immigration by choking the supply of jobs with a new law (taking effect Jan. 1), which threatens to pull the business license of any employer that knowingly hires an illegal immigrant," The New York Times reports.

"Its estimated population of 500,000 illegal immigrants is among the highest and fastest growing in the country, and illegal workers make up an estimated 9 percent to 12 percent of the work force, mostly in low-skill jobs in the service, construction and landscaping industries, according to research at Arizona State University."

Economists say that this kind of crack down will hurt the economy though.

"'If you take 12 percent of the work force away, that is going to be a problem,' said Dawn McLaren, an economist at Arizona State University, adding that people not currently working could never make up the difference. 'I don’t think patriotism is going to drive this one,'” The Times writes.