Legislators OK bill controlling illegal workers

Posted on June 1, 2008 
Filed Under News

Sun News
By Zane Wilson
5/30/08

COLUMBIA –The House agreed Thursday to the Senate’s latest compromise on illegal immigration control, and the governor said he will sign it.

After wrangling back and forth all session, lawmakers finally came to agreement on an immigration control bill that sets up an implied business license for anyone who hires other people.

Even though they don’t have an actual paper license, they can have their right to hire people revoked if they willfully employ illegal immigrants.

“We sent a very clear message to illegal immigrants in the state to leave,” said Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach. “The welcome mat is no longer out.”

Viers sponsored about two dozen bills starting last year that were aimed at illegal immigrants and their employment and receipt of state services and education. He was on the House panel that worked on the final compromises with the Senate on its versions of the bills.

“This will be one of the toughest illegal immigration bills in the nation,” Viers said.

It forbids illegal immigrants from receiving most state services, including higher education and scholarships.

Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, tried to add a clause that would forbid an illegal immigrant from being released on parole or into the community after completing a sentence. The person would have to be turned over to federal immigration authorities for deportation.

The amendment was because of what happened to Joyce Dargan, Clemmons told House members. It was “a very dark October day in Myrtle Beach” when Dargan was killed by one of two illegal immigrant youths who were racing their cars on Kings Highway. One ran off the road and smashed into Dargan as she was checking her roadside mailbox.

A few weeks ago, one of the drivers was almost released by juvenile authorities, but a Myrtle Beach member of the youth parole board insisted he be held for federal immigration police.

The House declined to add the Dargan amendment, but Horry County members will continue to look for ways to make the proposal law, Viers said.

Lawmakers wrestled with how to craft a law that the state can enforce because immigration is a federal matter. They also wrestled with the growing demands from constituents.