Thread: S.C.: Legislature takes up immigration proposals

Legislature takes up immigration proposals
Published Wednesday March 7 2007
By JEREMY HSIEH

Making it tougher to illegally obtain food stamps might goad illegal immigrants into leaving or at least working, said state Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Bluffton, one of nine sponsors of a bill to step up food stamp oversight.

The House bill would require anyone 18 or older receiving food payment assistance such as food stamps to have their immigration status verified through a federal program run by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services -- formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service -- an arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In Beaufort County, about 3,900 low-income households or about 9,100 people receive food stamps, said S.C. Department of Social Services Beaufort County Director Fred Washington Jr. Last year, he said his office distributed more than $10 million worth of food stamps. The food stamps program is primarily federally funded.

Illegal immigrants are not eligible for food stamps, though Washington said he is sure some people use false documents to obtain benefits.

"We don't have a great way to attest to what is legitimate," he said, noting that investigating cases of suspected false documents could draw discrimination complaints.

However, Washington said his office will comply with whatever policies the state legislature hands down.

"If policy changes require more stringent verification then we will do that ... I personally believe only legal residents should receive benefits," he said.

The age exemption is an attempt to make sure children are not harmed, Herbkersman said.

"Our system is being taxed. There are people over here that just want to work. In some ways, it's very noble. But our system is being taxed so heavily, we're trying to put the resources where the needs lie," he said.

It was one of two immigration bills approved by the House Judiciary Committee Feb. 28.

Another bill, which the House considered Wednesday, would require business licenses for non-lawyer professionals who offer immigration assistance services. Services covered by the bill include document translation, English classes or referrals to immigration lawyers. Some nonprofit organizations and certain employers that hire immigrant employees would be exempt.

Violators would be subject to up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A third immigration bill would create an illegal immigration study committee tasked with examining enforcement of federal and state laws. Its recommendations to the governor and leaders of the House and Senate would be due by 2008. The bill already passed in the House, and the Senate sent it to its Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_ne ... 1368c.html

Wouldn't it just be to easy if they just passed a law saying you could ask one simple question like ( were you born in the united states).
It just does not make sense!!