Senate approves SC anti-illegal immigration bill
By SEANNA ADCOX
Associated Press
Thursday, March 10, 2011

COLUMBIA — South Carolina senators approved anti-illegal immigration legislation early Thursday that would require law enforcement officers to check a person’s immigration status during traffic stops or an arrest unless the person has a valid driver’s license, military ID or passport on them.

The 28-8 vote in the overnight session followed days of debate by Republicans over how to make the bill tougher. It requires another, mostly routine vote before heading to the House, where its GOP majority has made the issue a top priority for this session.

Under the Senate bill, officers would have to call Immigrations and Custom Enforcement if they suspect someone might be in the country illegally. Republican Senate leaders contend that their bill makes an important distinction from a similar law passed in Arizona that’s being challenged in court, in that South Carolina officers wouldn’t be allowed to hold someone strictly over suspicions about their immigration status.

“We didn’t cross that line that invites a challenge,â€