South Carolina has taken a step forward on ending the exploitation of Americans by illegal aliens yesterday as Governor Mark Sanford signed what is deemed one of the toughest bills cracking down on illegal immigration in the United States. The bill joins others in the states of Georgia, Oklahoma, Arizona and Colorado that seek to sanction employers of illegal aliens with jail time and fines and end the prevalent practice of illegal aliens using state and government services that the residents of the state pay for.
The law fines employers $100-$1000 per illegal alien that they are found to employ and suspends business licenses of those caught knowingly hiring illegal aliens. The suspension of license is 30 days for the first offense and after a third offense their license is yanked for 5 years. The law also makes it mandatory for employers to use the E-VERIFY system to check the legal working status of new employees.
As far as public services, it bans illegal aliens from receiving public services and illegal aliens from attending state colleges. It does have one loophole in it though, it does nothing about illegal aliens attending private institutions if they pay out of state rates. I feel that situation should be addressed in the same manner of the sanctioning of businesses, since these institutions are making money off of the sale to illegal aliens. They should lose their teaching credentials and be heavily fined.
The law also makes it a felony to harbor and/or transport illegal aliens and for forged documents.
Good job South Carolina, you make me want to move there!
AP
Gov. Mark Sanford signed legislation Wednesday that threatens to temporarily shut down businesses and fine them up to $1,000 per worker if they employ illegal immigrants.
Sanford, surrounded by about 20 legislators, said the measure reasserts the rule of law in South Carolina - cracking down on the "wink-and-nod" employment of illegal immigrants. He and legislators said they hope the ideas spread and force Congress to act.
"The message is loud and clear: Stop the silent invasion of this state," said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston.
Welcome Aboard S. Carolina. However, you all should know, Oklahoma has been sued and a state judge has put some of the angi-illegal bill on hold. The judge is looking into whether or not the part of the bill that mandates employers be able to verify a job applicant's legal status conflicts with the federal authority on immigration.
For me, it should be seen in the same vein as background checks. People do them all the time for job applicants. They do this to assure that they hire the person that interviewed, and they don't hire someone that has a "troubled" past. It is this same principle that a law that bans hiring of illegals would make it a principle that employers voluntarily verify the legal status of applicants. No, the state can not force you to monitor immigration (that is the fed's job) but they can hold you responsible if the state finds that you have hired illegals.
I don't see a problem.
Posted by: captainfish on June 6, 2008 12:13 AM
Yay South Carolina! They join Mississippi and GA on getting tough on illegals. Now if only we can get the pro illegal, pro open borders FLORIDA LEGISLATURE to do something in the next session, it will be great. Former FL Speaker of the House, Marco Rubio (R-Miami) along with his top lieutenant Rep. David Rivera (R-Miami) and other cronies, Rep. Juan Zapata (R-Miami) all blocked allowing any of the six good illegal immigration bills (similar to OK's) from even being voting on and even boasted about it after it was too late to vote on them. They CONSPIRED before the legislative session even began that they were not going to allow those bills to be voted on. This should be brought up on ETHICS VIOLATIONS! Any suggestions anyone? Most disgusting is they're "Republicans." The Republicans now aren't the ones I always respected -- Reagan namely. Please keep lobbying for other states to pass tough laws. North Carolina is next -- check out www.alipac.us to get involved.
Posted by: April on June 6, 2008 12:08 PM
