Fewer legal visitors crossing into Arizona to shop

The immigration crackdown in Arizona has apparently led some legal visitors to stay out of the state.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says total cross-border visits into Arizona in the months after Gov. Jan Brewer signed Senate Bill 1070 fell 17 percent compared with the same period in 2009.

Mexico issued a warning to its citizens about travel in Arizona four days after Brewer signed the measure.

The drop-off amounts to about 12,500 fewer people entering Arizona daily.

Experts say a decline in visitors to the border can’t all be attributed to immigration.

The recession and increased wait times at ports of entry also play a role, although there is no way to calculate which factors are most important.