SC Senate leader wants constitution change on illegal immigration

October 5, 2007
The Associated Press


COLUMBIA, S.C. | One of the leaders in the state Senate wants the U.S. Congress to call a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution so states could deny benefits and expel people who are in this country illegally.

"It's a chance for us to hold Congress' feet to the fire and make them act. We've got an overwhelming problem and they're not dedicating overwhelming resources," said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell.

The Charleston Republican said states can do little to stop illegal immigration. The state is paying for services for illegal immigrants and their families and can't collect taxes from them.

"Unfortunately, the ability of the state to deal with the problem of illegal immigration is almost entirely taken away by the provisions of our Constitution," McConnell said. "However, Congress has refused or is incapable of acting, thereby leaving the states in the position of burning while Congress fiddles."

McConnell said he has no estimate of how many illegal immigrants are in South Carolina or how much they cost the state.

Nationally, there are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants and their children - many of whom are native-born U.S. citizens, said Sheri Steisel, immigration expert for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Every state has introduced some form of immigration legislation in the past year, she said. "When federal discussions on immigration fell through, states felt frustrated," Steisel said.

McConnell's resolution, if approved by the Legislature, would call for the General Assembly to officially petition the Congress on July 1, 2008, as allowed by Article V of the Constitution, to hold a constitutional convention. Before Congress could act, 33 other states would have to file similar petitions. Any changes that came out of the convention would have to be approved by 38 states before they were adopted, he said.

Telephone messages left for representatives of several immigrant and Hispanic organizations were not returned Friday.


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