State Senators Inform Public About Illegal Immigration Reform Bill

Tuesday October 23, 2007 4:35pm Reporter: Natalie Caula Posted By: Natalie Caula


North Charleston, SC - Some Lowcountry lawmakers are taking up the illegal immigration battle and trying to make some changes at the state level.


State senators are holding a public hearing to inform citizens about the bill they are trying to push.

The bill would attempt to prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants. Lawmakers say they hope this bill will give the jobs back to the citizens.

The Illegal Immigration Reform Act would penalize people who hire illegal immigrants.

One of the bill's sponsors, Senator Randy Scott of Summerville, is pushing the bill which he says is a step in the right direction.

"This bill actually came about because people of South Carolina are just fed up with illegal immigrants and it's time to do something about it," Scott said.

This "something" would not allow state and local governments to contract with businesses that employ illegal immigrants and would allow local governments to detain illegal immigrants and hit the federal government with the bill.

"If you hire somebody, go ahead and be sure that he is legal. [Make sure he/she's] not an illegal alien standing out on the corner, or 15 or 20 of them, who jump in the back of a truck, work and you pay them cash. That's over with," Scott explained.

Senator Chip Campsen of Isle of Palms is also sponsoring the bill and attended the public hearing where he and Sen. Scott hope to get the word out about trying to do something about the problem. A problem some say the federal government has swept under the rug.

The bill, which was introduced in April, and passed in the State Senate and is now sitting in the House Judiciary Committee.

http://www.abcnews4.com/news/stories/1007/466306.html