Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009
Bill cuts benefits for illegal immigrants
By Jim Davenport
COLUMBIA -- State legislators are pushing a bill to cut workers' compensation benefits for illegal immigrants in an effort to strengthen what's already one of the nation's toughest laws aimed at keeping those workers off state payrolls.

On Wednesday, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee debated a bill that says illegal immigrants can have medical costs covered, but would be barred from collecting disability benefits when they're hurt on the job. One panel member said he's also looking at denying illegal immigrants access to state courts.

None of that sits well with one of the state's leading Hispanic advocates.


"We can be nannies. We can be translators. We build houses. We build hospitals," said Diana Salazar, president of the Latino Association of Charleston. "But we cannot get benefits if we get hurt on the job because we don't have a piece of paper? I think it's unfair."

Salazar wasn't alone in questioning the legislation proposed only a year after a new law required employers to ensure newly hired workers are in the country legally.

Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said the legislation would end up leaving hospitals and doctors with unpaid bills and could end up forcing employers to fire legal workers to cover settlement costs.

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