Thread: S.C.: Police status checks to become law

Police status checks to become law

June 22, 2011



By GINA SMITH



A bill to require law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of drivers they pull over or suspect of breaking the law is headed to Gov. Nikki Haley’s desk.

The Republican governor will sign the proposal into law, her spokesman said Tuesday.

Republicans, including House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said the bill will make South Carolina safer.

“Today, South Carolina joined a growing number of states who are taking proactive steps to address the problems created by immigrants who not only come into our country illegally, but also violate our laws while here,â€

Thursday, Jun. 23, 2011


Groups to challenge immigration bill

Also, Haley flap with Homeland Security settled

By NOELLE PHILLIPS


South Carolina’s path toward a new immigration law took a couple of twists and turns Wednesday as a coalition of civil rights groups vowed to sue the state if the bill becomes law.


Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security resolved a dispute with the state over whether immigration documents generated by its E-verify database were protected by federal privacy law. That flap, which erupted in May after Gov. Nikki Haley accused the federal government of interfering with the state’s immigration enforcement, resulted in the state suspending its program that audits businesses’ employment records.


On Friday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services sent a letter to Haley to say it would authorize businesses to disclose the E-verify documents when S.C. auditors ask for them.


However, the director of the state agency that conducts the audits said she does not plan to restart the program – or rehire the 22 laid-off employees – for at least six more months.


That’s because the state’s latest immigration bill would change the rules for how businesses verify their employees’ legal status and would not go into effect until Jan. 1, said Catherine Templeton, director of the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Immigration. The bill, which has been approved by the Legislature, is awaiting Haley’s signature.


“We can’t enforce it,â€