Posted on Tue, Mar. 04, 2008
Legislators working on illegal immigration reform
The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. --Legislators hope to have a compromise next week on a proposal to clamp down on illegal immigration in South Carolina.

A conference committee of six House and Senate members began meeting Tuesday to hash out differences in their separate immigration bills.

Both versions require public employers to check if their employees are illegal immigrants. The Senate proposal extends the requirement to private businesses. Some say that provision includes a large loophole in what employers can use to verify legal status.

Both versions also ban illegal immigrants from attending public colleges and create a felony for harboring or transporting illegals.

Legislators in both chambers and parties have made illegal immigration a top priority this year, when all seats are up for election.

http://www.charlotte.com/205/story/521485.html