A decade ago, the immigration debate divided Hazleton, PA when the mayor blamed a wave of immigrants for crimes and passed a harsh bill against them. Professor René Flores lays out what happened and how laws like this can actually lead to more violence. For More on This Topic: Read his brief on Hazleton and Arizona, How Restrictive Laws Can Influence Public Attitudes towards Immigrants Check out the NPR story about the history of the town and how it has transformed. Further Reading: Why Does Immigration Arouse Deep Feelings and Conflicts?, John D. Skrentny, UC San Diego How Restrictive Immigration Measures Undermine the Mental Health of Latino Migrants, Whitney L. Duncan, University of Northern Colorado