Friday, Mar. 04, 2011
Illegal immigration bill stalled in Senate
Gina Smith

The S.C. Senate adjourned for the week Thursday without voting on a controversial illegal immigration bill.


That bill would require police to ask for photo identification during traffic stops or arrests as proof a person is in the country legally.


Police could not stop a person on the suspicion that he or she was in the country illegally.


If the stopped person cannot produce an ID, police would have to make calls to determine if a photo ID was ever issued to the person. If the stopped person was found to be in the country illegally, police would contact federal immigration officials.


While SLED chief Reggie Lloyd has said he is fine with the proposal, some law enforcement officials have expressed concern that their departments do not have enough staffing or time to enforce immigration laws, a responsibility of the federal government.

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