http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5864582

12/27/06
Immigration Ordinance Passes in Beaufort County

It's a plan to make South Carolina employers responsible for their workers, if they are illegal immigrants.

Wednesday, the Beaufort County Council voted in favor of an ordinance that could take away an business's license if they hire illegals. But some business owners say by passing this they are taking away local employers ability to make money.

"It would break every business," says Flor Chaverri a Beaufort business owner. "Hotels, restaurants, construction, you name it. It would bring it down to pieces, development would crash down."

Council members say illegal immigrants are putting a strain on county resources, like schools. The county school system says it has almost doubled in the past few years, thanks to illegal immigrant children. Children who's parents aren't giving back much needed tax money.

It's a contentious issue which led to heated debate among residents at the council meeting.

"Obviously the federal government has been remiss in doing its job. I think the final declaration that this will make is that this bill is making is more of a wake up call than anything else. To try and get the federal government to try and do something."

"If the federal laws are in place and we've got these laws in place for a reason. Then why not support them as opposed to dovetail into something new."

"No one of us can change the world, but we can change our part of it, our corner of it by doing what we think is the right thing."

In the end, their feelings were heard, but the decision had already been made.

A unanimous vote in favor of the ordinance, and against the estimated 20 thousand illegals working in the county.

And against what they call a lax policy by federal authorities.

"Lets show the Federal government that we want a solution, give them a way to work here," says Beaufort County councilperson Starletta Hairston. "Because I think that the only way that American citizens can compete is if we follow the same rules."

The ordinance will now go into effect sometime next year, but the debate is far from over. Beaufort business owners say they plan to take the county to court to stop the ordinance.

The U.S. Senate judiciary committee is looking into the issue. It could be up for discussion in the full Senate sometime in 2007.