S.C. Senators Debating Illegal Immigration Bill
The S.C. Senate will [resumed] on a bill meant to further crack down on illegal immigration.
The measure would direct officers to check the immigration status of a person they suspect is in the country illegally. The questions must follow a stop or arrest for something else.
Producing a valid driver's license, passport or military ID would satisfy the query.
The proposal resembles a measure passed in Arizona last year that brought a flurry of lawsuits, protests and boycotts.
But South Carolina's bill differs by not holding someone on that suspicion.
It directs law enforcement to call Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to alert them. If ICE agents don't respond, the suspect would be processed normally, depending on the offense that prompted the question.
Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, said he worked carefully to avoid conflicts with federal immigration law.
He contends that ICE would have a hard time ignoring the calls, especially for those accused of serious felonies, and called it a national security issue.
South Carolina is among at least 11 states considering an Arizona-like law this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The S.C. bill specifies that suspicion can't be based on race, color or national origin. But opponents contend that clause is meaningless and say, in practice, the proposal legalizes racial profiling.
The proposal comes three years after legislators approved a sweeping anti-illegal immigration law then considered one of the country's toughest.
Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, called the bill unnecessary and said the required phone call amounts to "window dressing."
He said he doesn't want to put more requirements on law enforcement at a time they're dealing with budget cuts.
Senators defeated a proposed change Wednesday before adjourning for the day. It would have removed citizens' ability to sue local governments for not following the law. –Sun News
The S.C. Senate will [resumed] on a bill meant to further crack down on illegal immigration.
The measure would direct officers to check the immigration status of a person they suspect is in the country illegally. The questions must follow a stop or arrest for something else.
Producing a valid driver's license, passport or military ID would satisfy the query.
The proposal resembles a measure passed in Arizona last year that brought a flurry of lawsuits, protests and boycotts.
But South Carolina's bill differs by not holding someone on that suspicion.
It directs law enforcement to call Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to alert them. If ICE agents don't respond, the suspect would be processed normally, depending on the offense that prompted the question.
Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, said he worked carefully to avoid conflicts with federal immigration law.
He contends that ICE would have a hard time ignoring the calls, especially for those accused of serious felonies, and called it a national security issue.
South Carolina is among at least 11 states considering an Arizona-like law this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The S.C. bill specifies that suspicion can't be based on race, color or national origin. But opponents contend that clause is meaningless and say, in practice, the proposal legalizes racial profiling.
The proposal comes three years after legislators approved a sweeping anti-illegal immigration law then considered one of the country's toughest.
Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, called the bill unnecessary and said the required phone call amounts to "window dressing."
He said he doesn't want to put more requirements on law enforcement at a time they're dealing with budget cuts.
Senators defeated a proposed change Wednesday before adjourning for the day. It would have removed citizens' ability to sue local governments for not following the law. –Sun News
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