Senate Gives Final Approval to Immigration Reform Bill
Columbia, SC - The Senate today gave final approval to the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act (H.4400). The bill, which now goes to the House of Representatives, is the most comprehensive immigration reform bill in the country. The legislation addresses the major issues in the fight for illegal immigration reform, including employer verification for all employers through the federal E-verify system or with a valid SC driver’s license.
“Today the Senate passed the most effective reform bill in the nation. It has a strong E-verify requirement and very aggressive penalties for those who knowing hire illegal aliens,” says Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg). “Everyone will now be playing by the same rules and those who choose to break the rules will be punished. Senator Ritchie introduced the first comprehensive immigration reform bill in February 2007, but says “today’s success was made possible by the extensive behind-the-scenes work of Senator Glenn McConnell.”
Senator McConnell (R-Charleston) worked extensively with House leadership to find common ground on some of the major sticking points of previous legislation. “This bill enjoyed wide support before the Senate included private employers. After private employers became a part of the equation it took the work of everyone, the House leadership, Senator Ritchie, Senator Campsen, and the leadership across the aisle to bring in private employers in a way that adheres to federal law, but has the enforceability elements to create a strong bill.”
Senator Ritchie and the Senate Republican Caucus also extend their appreciation to the governor for his consistent support of illegal immigration reform. In a statement release after the bill received a key second reading on Tuesday, May 27, the governor said “There’s been a lot of back and forth on this bill over the past few weeks, but we believe the end result that the Senate approved today is what everyone was after the whole time – a strong and enforceable immigration bill.” The governor went on to say he is looking forward to the bill coming to his desk as soon as possible.
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