May 30 2008
State Legislature Hands Immigration Bill to Sanford for Signature
The State House voted in a landslide yesterday to agree to the Senate approved version of the illegal immigration bill that Harrell and McConnell worked on together to finally get completed in both chambers. I imagine Sanford will approve the bill and we will soon begin to witness the exodus of these lawbreaking invaders from our state, just as it was seen in Arizona and Oklahoma.
Of course, there were a few objections:
“The trail of probable cause sways toward racial profiling,” said Whipper, whose district
includes a large population of immigrants.
Whipper said he is worried that legal Hispanic immigrants, specifically, will face hardships as a result of the legislation.
He also says he does not think legal immigrants were involved enough in the process to have had their voices heard and that they might be unaware of what’s coming down the pike.
Why do legal immigrants need to have more of a voice concerning this legislation? What makes them different than anyone else living in South Carolina?
Whippersnapper’s concern about racial profiling may have some validity to it, but it’s not due to any elements of racism. It’s just a fact that the vast majority of illegal aliens in this country are from south of the border. That’s just the way it is so naturally people are going to suspect Hispanics that don’t speak English as being here illegally. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, you know?
The Post and Courier provides a list of what the bill will do. I’m satisfied:
– Authorizes the State Law Enforcement Division to reach a deal with federal agencies for the enforcement of immigration laws.
– Requires people to prove their lawful presence in the U.S. to receive public benefits, although some exceptions apply, such as for emergency medical treatment.
– Adds additional penalties for ID fraud in connection to an illegal immigrant.
– Requires all businesses to check the legal status of workers by using a state driver’s license, a license from another state that has the same eligibility requirements or E-Verify (a free, online database that lets employers check Social Security numbers).
– Mandates fines for employers between $100 and $1,000 for every time they fail to verify the legal status of a worker, charge employers who knowingly hire an illegal immigrant with a felony and suspend right of businesses to operate when they get caught with illegal workers.
– Allows fired citizens to sue their former bosses if they’re replaced by illegal workers.
– Prohibits illegal immigrants from attending state universities or receiving state-funded college scholarships.
– Outlaws “sanctuary cities.”
– Requires judges to check immigration status when setting bail.
– Expands the state grand jury’s jurisdiction to include immigration fraud.
– Creates an illegal immigration hot line through the state Commission for Minority Affairs.
– Creates a felony for harboring and transporting illegal immigrants.
