Immigration bill heads to governorHouse passes Senate-approved measure; some worry about new law's consequences By Yvonne Wenger (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, May 30, 2008
COLUMBIA — Supporters of the new immigration reform plan say illegal immigrants will start fleeing South Carolina as soon as the governor signs it into law. Others are worried about the consequences. The state's long-awaited plan is headed to Gov. Mark Sanford after the House voted 94-16 Thursday to agree with the Senate-approved version. "Working together, we've put forth a bill that will make a difference when it comes to illegal immigration in South Carolina, and I look forward to signing it when it reaches my desk," Sanford said in a statement. The Immigration billThe full text of House bill 4400 Immigration reform, and specifically how the state would ensure businesses weren't hiring illegal labor, has divided the Legislature in ways reminiscent of the battles to bring down the Confederate battle flag and ban video poker. "This is a historic day," said Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, one of the lead negotiators on the issue. "What we have done is everything we can possibly do." Rep. Seth Whipper, D-North Charleston, is worried the state has gone too far. Whipper and Democratic Reps. Floyd Breeland of Charleston and David Mack of North Charleston were the only local House members to vote against the bill. The Governor's statementGovernor Sanford thanks House for Immigration Bill's passage "The trail of probable cause sways toward racial profiling," said Whipper, whose district includes a large population of immigrants. Whipper said he is worried that legal Hispanic immigrants, specifically, will face hardships as a result of the legislation. He also says he does not think legal immigrants were involved enough in the process to have had their voices heard and that they might be unaware of what's coming down the pike. In supporting the bill, Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, said the legislation is a good example of how the process of making laws is supposed to work. The issue was studied by the Legislature for more than two years and was publicly vetted in hearings and via media outlets. What's more, Campsen said, the legislative leaders and the governor were heavily involved in reaching a compromise, which included finding a way to bring the many initial dissenters on board. "Too much political bickering was going on," Campsen said. "It was time to quit making political points and make a difference." The bill must be ratified — a routine procedure — before Sanford can sign it. Campsen said the governor's immediate willingness to sign the bill comes, in part, because of the chance Sanford was given by the Legislature to help shape the final compromise. "We heard loud and clear what the citizens of our state wanted," said House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston. AT A GLANCE Here's a look at the details in the state Legislature's illegal immigration reform legislation: -- Authorizes the State Law Enforcement Division to reach a deal with federal agencies for the enforcement of immigration laws. -- Requires people to prove their lawful presence in the U.S. to receive public benefits, although some exceptions apply, such as for emergency medical treatment. -- Adds additional penalties for ID fraud in connection to an illegal immigrant. -- Requires all businesses to check the legal status of workers by using a state driver's license, a license from another state that has the same eligibility requirements or E-Verify (a free, online database that lets employers check Social Security numbers). -- Mandates fines for employers between $100 and $1,000 for every time they fail to verify the legal status of a worker, charge employers who knowingly hire an illegal immigrant with a felony and suspend right of businesses to operate when they get caught with illegal workers. -- Allows fired citizens to sue their former bosses if they're replaced by illegal workers. -- Prohibits illegal immigrants from attending state universities or receiving state-funded college scholarships. -- Outlaws "sanctuary cities." -- Requires judges to check immigration status when setting bail. -- Expands the state grand jury's jurisdiction to include immigration fraud. -- Creates an illegal immigration hot line through the state Commission for Minority Affairs. -- Creates a felony for harboring and transporting illegal immigrants. Reach Yvonne Wenger at ywenger@postandcourier.com or 803-799-9051. |
Article tools
| |||
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 35 comment(s)
Posted by ForPnC on May 30, 2008 at 4:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"He also says he does not think legal immigrants were involved enough in the process to have had their voices heard"
If they're here legally then they have nothing to worry about.
Sign it!
Posted by mustanger on May 30, 2008 at 6:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The immigration bill offered is what the majority of the LEGAL citizens want to see passed. It is not racially profiling anyone, it just so happens that the majority of the ILLEGALS are from south of the border coming to this country and taking advantage of the benefits offered. They need to stay in their own country and fight to make changes in the corrupt governments that will not provide decent jobs for their people. The US contractors that hire them in this country are cheating them and paying slave wages. We the tax paying LEGAL US CITIZENS are sick and tired of picking up the bill and seeing them turn this country into a 3rd world nation. Things have got to change or the future generations will suffer!!
Posted by moonpie on May 30, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Whipper said says he does not think legal immigrants were involved enough in the process to have had their voices heard and that they might be unaware of what's coming down the pike"
IS THIS GUY SERIOUS? WHO CARES IF THEY HAVE THEIR VOICES EHARD THEY'RE NOT US CITIZENS! THEY'RE HERE ILLEGALLY! THEY HAVE NO RIGHTS UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION. THEY SHOULD BE IN A JAIL CELL IF THE FEDERAL GOV WAS DOING ITS JOB ENFORCING LAWS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS! I HOPE IT DOES SEND THEM REELING TOWARD THE BORDER BUT LEST WAIT AND SEE. THEN WAGES AND BENEFITS WILL GO UP FOR PEOPLE LEFT TO DO THESE JOBS. CHEAP LABOR FOLKS THATS ALL IT IS ABOUT.
Posted by buckleylover1989 on May 30, 2008 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They should stay over there, they can get gas for $2.00 a gallon in Mexico!!!!!!!!! We have to pay more than double. Whats wrong with this picture?????
Posted by NativeSon on May 30, 2008 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is about time!
Posted by Paul on May 30, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The bill is still not perfect, but at least, for now, we will be sending the right message. I admit that prices and the low income industries will take a hit. But, I am willing to absorb those hardships(along with everything else these days) for "Made Legally in the USA" !
Posted by outrage on May 30, 2008 at 7:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My landscaping business is about to get busy.
L.I.L. company - Legal Irish Landscaping Company!
Look for me soon:-)
Posted by Toots2U on May 30, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm so tired of hearing 'they come here for better wages'. I just rented a car. Guess where it was assembled! Mexico!! That's right. US auto makers are going down the tubes, but cars and many more consumer goods are manufactured in Mexico. Go the heck back and get a job at a former US company. Wages can't be that bad.
Posted by stevo on May 30, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HURRAY! Now I JUST HOPE! The rest of the Country sees this, and does about the same thing!! We are like Rome, greed and BAD Politics are bringing this Country down, I for one am glad to see the right thing is FINALLY starting to be done! Kudos to the politicians in S.C.!:)
Posted by nesseca on May 30, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rep. Seth Whipper has GOT to be kidding me. Maybe he should take all the rapists and murderers in the N. Charleston area out on a camping trip and they can sit around a campfire holding hands while singing "Kumbayah" and roast marshmallows while pondering their current situation and how it might bring about hardships. It's all about feelings, ya know.
Posted by mcdian on May 30, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Its about time we tell our children it is not OK to break the law.
Posted by captivated on May 30, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now, isn't it just amazing what our legislators can do during an election year!?! Wave a ballot box at them and suddenly, they wake up and start doing their jobs. Hasta Luego, illegal immigrants! Now, about these gas prices.....
Posted by Jane on May 30, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whipper said he was worried that legal Hispanics immigrants will face hardships as a result of this legislation. Huh? How would a LEGAL His. immigrant face hardships? They and Americans born and raised in this country who have Hispanic names are more likely to have their identities stolen! Let's face it, if you are illegal and you are Hispanic whose identity would you rather steal?
Whipper there is an organization started by Hispanics in this country who are sick and tired of illegals "speaking for them" it is called www.dontspeakforme.org
Why are the Dems so pro illegal? We are all hurt but don't they realize that minorities in this country are hurt the most?
There is a strong correlation between immigration, black wages, black employment rates, and incarceration rates. Analysis suggests that a 10% immigrant-induced increase in the supply of a particular skill group REDUCED the black wage by 3.6%, LOWERED the employment rate of black men by 2.4% points, & increased the incarceration rate of blacks by almost a full percentage point. www.nber.org.
Don't know how accurate those statistics are, but found it in my research.
Come on you politicians look out for Americans.
As I have posted before OK and AZ umemployment rates are going down since they cracked down on illegals.
Outrage..good luck with your business. I hope it goes through the roof. You should put that on the side of your truck about hiring only legal folkes! :-)
P.S. to be fair, too many Rep. are pro illegal too! Dump Graham on June 10th! Go Buddy Witherspoon go!
Posted by UrGatorbait on May 30, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
About time. It's a start for sure. Legal immigrants moonpie are the ones here legally. Duh.
Dudes with machine guns on the borders? You pull the trigger tough guy.
What do rapists and murderers have to do with illegal immigrant legislation?
What the hell does gas prices in Mexico have to do with illegal immigrants. Besides the gas is 81 octane and the quality control sucks.
The rabble rousers, pot stirrers add nothing but hate to the pot instead of thinking and forcing legislators to act. They finally got off their dead backsides and took charge. It's easier to gripe than to act, less thinking and action invlovled. Stir trouble than actually do something about the problem. I don't think business will take off because of the illegal problem because they don't come here for wages right? I think the illegal immigration issue in some instances has been an excuse generator for others poor business skills, laziness and need to find that boogieman.
Posted by nesseca on May 30, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"What do rapists and murderers have to do with illegal immigrant legislation?"
My point was that it sounds like Rep. Whipper likes to coddle those who break the law.
Posted by Jane on May 30, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No one is looking for a boogieman. Believe it or not, alot of us are concerned about the sovereignty of our nation. By the way, the English language is now in the minority in Miami. www.outragedpatriots.com article in the left hand column about 6 or 7 stories down. Laziness? Lack of skills? Naw. I know a roofer who lost a job because he refused to do it for $5.00 an hour! $5.00 an hour! That is what the man said to him. The other contractor was willing to do it for $5.00 an hour! Guess where those workers came from?
Posted by dreyn on May 30, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
George Orwell had it right. If you keep calling a thing by a different name, people will start to believe it. The news media has helped this process along by continually calling illegal people 'immigrants'. They ARE NOT immigrants! Immigrants follow the just and necessary laws which are already in place and have served this country so well the past couple of hundred years. These people are BREAKING the LAW! They are lured here by unscrupulous American businessman who see a golden opportunity and are using their influence with legislators to make it easy for the illegals to stay here unlawfully. How does it get to the [point where American citizens who OBEY the law get to be called 'bigots' by their senior senator for wanting the law enforced. American business needs to re-learn that capitalism requires that you rise or fall by good business practices-not by having your fellow citizens have to put up with the by-products of your illegal activities. If you pay decent wages, you will get decent workers and if your products are needed and satisfactory, you will make a profit-you do not need to BREAK the law to make your job easier. Just a note from someone who believes in a 'Nation of Laws'.
Posted by sheeple on May 30, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Why are the Dems so pro illegal?"
Job security. When the illegals are allowed to vote, they're going to vote for the party that's going to hand them the most free magical government money (just like other constituencies who want free magical government money).
Posted by Justice_For_All on May 30, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Calling an illegal immigrant an undocumented alien is like calling a drug dealer and unlicensed pharmacist.
Ask the Indians what happens when you don’t control immigration.
Posted by Jane on May 30, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
dreyn you are exactly right. Keep calling it a different name enough and people start to believe it. Like "racist" and "bigot". Those words are tossed around like a rag doll today and quite frankly have lost their original meaning. If someone disagrees with you? Why they just call you a racist or bigot! How insulting to the older generation of blacks in this country who truly experienced racism and bigotry!
Posted by nesseca on May 30, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Right. Just like a liberal now likes to be called a "progressive".
Posted by CHRISJIII on May 30, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This legislation will not stand up under the scrutiny of the U.S. Constitution and is just a "feel good" measure by state legislators. Rep. Whipper is correct this will lead to racial profiling of Hispanics and those who are perceived to be.
Posted by Jane on May 30, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What do you mean it won't stand up under the US Constitution? Where in the Constitution does it say people are allowed to sneak into this country? I have combed over the Constitution and cannot find it anywhere. Do you honestly believe our Founding Fathers would be ok with this out of control invasion? It says in the Constitution that the Federal Government (their main duty by the way) is to protect the states from invasion. That is in the Constitution!! They are to protect us from invasion! Not to protect the invaders. And by the way, our Founding Fathers wnated the majority of power to rest with the states and since the federal government is failing to protect us against this invasion they would WANT the states to step up and stop the invasion. Which is what we are now having to do!!
Posted by SCPDBLUE on May 30, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To all who read,How are they (SLED) going to enforce this? Can NCPD stop trucks from picking up the illegals at Stall & Ashley Phos.? NO.Can we as citizens Call the Hot Line and report illegals working for companies,If so who is going to investagate and how long will it take before action is taken...We as citizens should make copies of this so to be law and give them to the lawn care companies,IHOP (Yes,they work there too),Cee Cees pizza and anyother company we see with illegals working,That is to include Chinese restaurants like the one on Rivers ave across from Northwoods Mall.The chinese also use illegals and they are there own race...PEOPLE OF THE LOW COUNTRY STAND UP AGAINST ILLEGAL ALIENS REPORT,REPORT,REPORT. untill action is taken.We must be like Paul Ravere but instead of shouting the British are coming to the people we should shout to SLED and ICE that the Illegals are here and untill action is taken,Make SLED,ICE and others who deal in immigration phones ring off the hook...Shout it from the church steeples,roof tops that we want action not words.If our elected officals dont hear us,we will vote them out.Wake up South Carolina this is your state,people of the lowcountry unite against this invasion,aginst a people who do not follow the law,who are changing our laws to benifit them,Who are sending millions of dollars back to their home countries for the benefit of that country not ours,A people who will not learn our language but we must learn theirs.,a people who use our highways and have no insurance ,which in turn drives ours up.We must make our voices heard before it is too late.United we stand divided we fall.
Posted by gunlover on May 30, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hot skippy, it is about time the folks in Columbia did something smart for a change. The state needs it's jobs filled by citizens of the state and country and not by Illegal Aliens ( who drain the state dry with medical,welfare(illegally obtained) and no taxes being paid).
I just wish that the bills that will go to the governor had the same effect that some in Arizona did, and start the self-deportation a little earlier.
One other thing, the fines are too low, minimun fine should be $10,000.00 for first offense and loss of business for any other offense.
Posted by losangeles on May 30, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to the people of South Carolina. Be thankful that you have elected leaders that listen to the will of the people. Congratulations on taking the first step toward saving your state.
Posted by Weeeee on May 30, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Chris for the most part. This piece really is "feel good" legislation designed with votes for office in mind. "We passed it so you people vote for us" is their idea. Every piece of legislation that has been passed by states seems to get struck down as unconstitutional because there's always that "it's the federal government's position to regulate immigration" and "it's not the states right to dictate immigration laws" or some other bs reason.
Define irony. US Borders and Customs officials in Charleston buying lunch from roach coaches (which are obviously illegal because they follow NO laws concerning DHEC).
Doing the jobs Americans won't do? I didn't know identity theft was a legal position anywhere. Yeahhhhh. I mow my own lawn.
Posted by charlene68 on May 30, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think it is going to pass. it is basically the same thing they had the first time. what is the difference in this one and the first one ?
Posted by charlene68 on May 30, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the first one did not pass ? all we can do is hope i guess. but they need to make it stronger for it to pass and chek all the pros and cons, cause if not, it wont pass again.
Posted by greyrider on May 30, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's what people don't get. Government, by nature, is generally, a disaster. A lot of people here bash Columbia, but by what standard? The federal government has been a disaster for decades no matter which party was in power. Most state governments aren't much better. This bill, even with its holes, is one of the strongest in the country. Most states won't even CONSIDER an illegal immigration bill. If you think government is the final answer to ANYTHING, you're naive. "The People" built America and "The People" are the only ones who can bring it back. This bill is a good start, but "The People" now need to expose and boycott businesses hiring illegals. Between fines and boycotts, that's the real solution. Money talks.
Posted by Jane on May 30, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are absolutely right greyrider. It is up to "The People". Folks...stop hiring illegals!! That is the main problem. You who hire them!
Posted by singleroni on May 30, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the governor signs the bill, employers with more than 100 employees would be subject to these new rules beginning July 2009 while those with fewer than 100 employees fall under the new rules July 2010. so it will be awhile before it trickle down to the subcontractors and landscapers. but a start-
Posted by beth1070 on May 30, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sign it Mark! Sign it!
Posted by mrhogg on May 31, 2008 at 1:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why do these people bother you all so much and how did YOU get here anyway? you people should be the ones forced out of the state of sc !!! what makes you so much better than someone else ? these people are here and have families and work hard. they get the jobs because all you people with these hateful snobby ways has lazy kids who dont want to work.you people spend more time being cruel to others when you could be the chritians you claim to be and be happy these people have chance at a better life. why are you so scared of them..I know...because they are better than you !! you people are just plain junk !!! my hats off to these folks who have sacrificed so much !!! to you all..well you know what you can kiss !!!
Posted by titanca on May 31, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
mrhogg, I am agree with you, It will be interesting when SC economy will start collapsing just because their will be not people working in the agriculture business, construction business etc, this people are hard workers, who spend their money here and just want to have a better life and live the American dream, dream that dream you have forgotten. This country was made by immigrants...and that is what it makes this country special, all the cultures that could live together.