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.

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