Senate debates SC anti-illegal immigration bill

Senate debates SC anti-illegal immigration bill

Associated Press - March 9, 2011 10:55 PM ET

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina senators have approved making it a felony to produce or sell counterfeit licenses or other picture IDs to illegal immigrants.

The Senate added the amendment late Wednesday to an anti-illegal immigration measure. The crime would be punishable by a $25,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

It was tacked on to a measure directing law enforcement to try to check the legal status of suspects. The query would have to follow a stop or arrest for something else, and the person could not be held solely on that suspicion.

Under another approved change, the requirement would not apply to school resource officers. Democratic Sen. Brad Hutto of Orangeburg said school officers shouldn't have to make the check every time they break up a fight.

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14222506

Senate approves SC anti-illegal immigration bill
Associated Press - March 10, 2011 1:15 AM ET

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina senators have approved an anti-illegal immigration bill directing officers to check the legal status of suspects.

The Senate approved the measure shortly after midnight Wednesday. It requires another vote before heading to the House.

The bill requires law enforcement to try to check the legal status of suspects after they're stopped or arrested for something else. It specifies a person can't be held solely on that suspicion, a huge difference from a law passed in Arizona last year.

Changes to the bill approved late Wednesday include making it a felony to sell or produce picture IDs for illegal immigrants. The punishment would be a $25,000 fine or up to five years in prison.

The bill also creates an immigration enforcement division within the Department of Public Safety.

http://www.abcnews4.com/Global/story.asp?S=14222909

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