Sheriff, Sanford push immigration reform
Published Wed, Mar 19, 2008 1:45 AM

Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner joined Gov. Mark Sanford at a news conference Tuesday in Columbia to call for passage of immigration reform. Two immigration bills have passed the S.C. Senate and House and are being negotiated in conference committees between the two chambers.

The House version does not contain employee-verification requirements of private employers; the Senate version does.

"The increase in illegal immigrants in Beaufort County, as in other counties, has put tremendous demands on local law enforcement," Tanner said.

"The immigration legislation now in conference ... will provide some relief, and I strongly urge the General Assembly to quickly send a bill to the governor."

Tanner has also been involved in developing a statewide program to move illegal immigrants from county jails to a regional jail system where they would eventually be deported.

http://www.beaufortgazette.com/news/loc ... 24397.html