Thread: S.C.: Firm faces illegal immigration fine

Posted on Fri, Nov. 06, 2009
Firm faces illegal immigration fine
By Prentiss Findlay
The Post and Courier

A Lowcountry firm, Pleasant Places Inc. landscaping, faces a $24,000 state fine for alleged violations of the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act, officials said Thursday.

Since July 1, the state Office of Immigration Worker Compliance has cited 16 businesses for violations of the new law after conducting audits at 550 firms. Of those cited, only Pleasant Places Inc. has failed to correct alleged violations, said Jim Knight, communications director for the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The business is accused of failing to verify the legal status of 24 workers hired after July 1, he said. The maximum penalty per violation is $1,000.

Knight said Pleasant Places Inc. is the first business in the state to be cited twice for violating the new law.

On Aug. 11, Pleasant Places Inc., located on Long Point Road, was fined $4,250 for violations of the immigrant worker law, according to the immigration office. Company President Jason E. James on Aug. 13 certified the business was in compliance with the law governing illegal aliens, and the fine was dismissed. On Oct. 20, the company was cited for allegedly failing to verify the status of 24 workers and fined $24,000. The second citation occurred within two years of the first one, so the $24,000 penalty cannot be adjusted even if a good faith compliance effort is demonstrated, Knight said. However, the company can appeal the citation within 30 days to an administrative law judge, Knight said.

"We have not heard from them since the [Oct. 20] citation was issued," Knight said.

James did not immediately respond to phone and e-mail messages on Thursday seeking comment. Before the new law took effect, James said at a local meeting of concerned businessmen that about 90 percent of his labor force is Hispanic. Many of the company's 150 or so workers were long-time employees who would not be affected by the new law because it applied only to new hires. However, James emphasized that the new law would have an immediate impact on his labor pool. "Sixty percent of all applicants will be denied [employment] instantly because they will be illegal," James said.

He made his comments last December in a presentation about the Illegal Immigration Reform Act at Trident Technical College's Complex for Economic Development.

http://www.thesunnews.com/news/local/story/1152703.html

if they are caught a third time, SUSPEND their operating License