Thread: SC lawmaker proposes immigration crackdown

SC lawmaker proposes immigration crackdown

CarolinaLive.com
by Joel Allen
February 7, 2011

A South Carolina lawmaker has today proposed a law that he says would crack down on illegal immigration and reduce the number of people who are in the state illegally.

The bill introduced by Sen. Larry Grooms of Bonneau is based on an Arizona law that will allow police to check the immigration status of any person they believe might be in the country illegally.

Currently, Horry County police say if officers determine that a suspect in a crime might be an illegal immigrant, they file charges against the person for the crime he's suspected of committing, while forwarding information about the person's citizenship status to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

When asked how a change to an Arizona-style law might affect enforcement procedures locally, Horry County police Sgt. Robert Kegler said, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

Sen. Grooms told the Greenville News that to protect people in South Carolina, he wants the state to do all it can to have the smallest illegal immigrant population in the country.

But an attorney with the Appleseed Legal Justice Center in Columbia told NewsChannel 15 that Grooms' proposed legislation doesn't include any provision to pay for enforcement yet.

"The issues of cost alone are currently a problem," said Tammy Besherse. She said the state hasn't yet set aside money to enforce a 2008 law that requires employers to determine the citizenship of workers through the federal E-verify database.

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=577701

the Bill mentioned above is Senate Bill 20.
its the first bill posted

Track South Carolina Legislation here

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-225039.html

SC would be more like AZ, if one SC lawmaker gets his way

by Joel Allen
Posted: 02.07.2011 at 8:02 PM

Sen. Larry Grooms from Berkeley County wants South Carolina to pass a law to crack down on illegal immigration, similar to an Arizona law that's been challenged in the courts.


The bill would allow police to check the immigration status of any person they believe might be in the country illegally.


Most folks we talked to think there need to be tougher laws to keep illegal immigrants out.

"It's over-burdening the United States. We got to worry about our Social Security. Now they want to give Social Security to the ones that aren't even allowed to be here," said Cecil Cassatt of Myrtle Beach.

"If you're illegal then no, you shouldn't be here. They should definitely crack down on it, I think so," added Rico Hinson of West Columbia.


But Peggy Ryals, who teaches English to immigrants in Myrtle Beach, says South Carolina already has a tough immigration law, passed in 2008.


She says the state doesn't need a new law that would cost millions to enforce.

"And if we pass it, where are we going to detain them? Who's going to build the detention centers? We are, with tax dollars that need to go to the schools," Ryals said.


Sen. Grooms told a Greenville newspaper that to protect people in South Carolina, he wants the state to do all it can to have the smallest illegal immigrant population in the country.


But even those who want tough immigration laws, aren't sure that a law crafted after the one in Arizona is what South Carolina needs.

"I really think that Arizona went over the hill a little bit too far, but I do think there ought to be very good immigration laws that are enforced," said George Jenkins of Myrtle Beach.

A new report from the Pew Hispanic Center says the number of illegal immigrants in South Carolina dropped more than 20 percent over the past 3 years.

Grooms says the 2008 law may be one reason for the drop, but he wants the number to go down even more.

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=577878

Az did not go to far she did right they should Have did this year's ago
this country is one hell of a mess & you all know that

No Amnesty