Thread: SC-Lawmakers grill SLED chief on immigration

Friday, May. 21, 2010
Lawmakers grill SLED chief on immigration
By NOELLE PHILLIPS - nophillips@thestate.com Buzz up!

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S.C. Law Enforcement Division director Reggie Lloyd said his agency has not signed an agreement with the federal government to enforce immigration laws in the Palmetto State because the General Assembly has not set aside money for the program.


Even if the General Assembly found money to boost his agency’s funding to pre-recession levels, Lloyd said he still would not have the manpower to enforce immigration laws. The choice would come down to investigating murders and drug trafficking, or tracking down illegal immigrants.


“We have enough on our plate, but if everyone wants us to go chase illegal immigrants, we will,â€

[quote]Lloyd said the state would have to spend millions to build federally certified detention centers to hold anyone arrested. And he would need to meet with hundreds of local police chiefs and sheriffs to learn how many officers needed to go through federal training on the laws.


“And I don’t have any local law enforcement agencies coming to me now and asking if they can do it,â€