This is causing panic amongst the millions of illegal immigrants in the USA that have spent years there trying to make a life for themselves and families that are either with them in America or back in their original country.

The worry is that as these people move out of the state, are there going to be enough American citizens to take their place? Are the basic, menial and often labour intensive jobs that are poorly paid going to be completed each and every day as required?

I think this will be an important test case which other states and countries will follow or reject depending on the outcome.

If these jobs are not taken by Americans then Im sure they may ask them to come back and grant millions of illegal immigrants the right to stay with eventual citizenship.

They many then criminalise any left over illegal immigrants and continue to create a vast fence on the southern US border. These policies are often unpopular with immigrant groups which President Obama needs to stay in power over the coming decade.

A similar debate is also raging in the UK regarding the influx of mainly Eastern European workers who have started to return home with the world wide recession and lack of job opportunities.

The new Tory and Lib Dem government in the UK has put a cap on the number non EU national immigrants but this is seen as political lip service and nothing more as it only effects a small amount of potential immigrants. The government is looking to introduce further caps to boost UK citizens chances of finding employment and retraining opportunities.

Although the British National Party gained more seats in the recent election their impact on UK politics is limited especially as the leadership is hindered by infighting and a potential split.

The benefit system is also currently being changed in the UK which may effect immigrants harder than UK citizens resulting in this pull factor being reduced.

An update at the end of July 2010 is that the ruling in Arizona is unlawful and will not be implemented. Watch this space.