COLUMBIA --- A federal judge has butchered Arizona's controversial illegal-immigration law, but South Carolina Republicans pushing a similar effort are vowing to press ahead.
"We see today's decision as only the first step in an important legal struggle," said Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, in a news release Wednesday. "I am committed to continuing full steam to have a bill ready for the Senate and for us to pass a stronger Arizona-style immigration bill when we return in January."
On Wednesday, a U.S. District judge struck down key provisions of Arizona's new Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, which called for law enforcement officers to verify a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws.
Civil rights advocates, including the S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center, had warned that nonwhites would be subject to racial profiling.
The issue reignited in May after months of dormancy when Sen. Larry Grooms, a Berkeley County Republican, introduced S. 1446. The bill was modeled after Arizona's legislation but ran out of time this legislative year.
Roan Garcia-Quintana, the executive director of Americans Have Had Enough!, a backer of Grooms' bill, said Wednesday that the proposal must be reintroduced.
"I don't think we need to go back to the drawing board," he said. "I think we have to push ahead. We've been lining up sponsors to get it done."
Other Palmetto State Republicans reacted angrily to the judge's Arizona decision.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C, who is locked in a re-election battle with Democrat Rob Miller, called it "a harsh violation of states' rights."
Georgia: In a poll conducted by the Georgia Newspaper Partnership, 68 percent of respondents -- all registered voters -- said they would support a law similar to the one enacted in Arizona.
South Carolina: The second round of a 2008 law that went into effect July 1 requires all businesses to check new hires' legal status and fire any workers in the country illegally. The law previously applied only to companies with more than 100 employees.
-- From staff reports
The ruling: A federal judge dealt a serious rebuke to Arizona's toughest-in-the-nation immigration law Wednesday when she put most of the crackdown on hold just hours before it was to take effect.
What it means: The provisions that most angered opponents will not take effect, including sections that required officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws. The judge also delayed parts of the law that required immigrants to carry their papers at all times, and made it illegal for undocumented workers to solicit employment in public places.
What's next: The ruling shifts the immigration debate to the courts and sets up a lengthy legal battle that may not be decided until the Supreme Court weighs in.
-- Associated Press
Comments
I doubt that the SC GOP is getting any support on this issue from their favorite RINO, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. Graham is still trying to codify
his Amnesty for Illegals bill by calling it Comprehensive Immigration Reform. He figures that since he got away with snookering the SC voters during his election and re-election he'll have no problem doing the same with his Amnesty sell!
While this piece may be well written based on some AP report, it lacks accuracy by exclusion. The "butchered" bill only had a minor injunction put against it until a higher court can overturn the Clinton appointee afraid to enforce the written law (especially against her party's wishes). What Judge Bolton did was rule that a policeman doesn't HAVE to check for legal status on every encounter with a suspected illegal alien. In her notes explaining her "decision" she made it clear that the officer who suspects illegal status MAY check the "law required" papers (green card, visa) that all non-citizens are REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW to carry.
While this ruling takes a lot of teeth out of the law, especially for the "sanctuary" police, it does not stop the police from arresting illegals. For example, the sheriff of Maricopa County, Sheriff Arpaio, can keep right on arresting illegals without papers, sticking them in tent cities until ICE picks them up and feed them two baloney sandwich meals a day.
The next court may have a less partisan judge.
You're right Charles Wilburn, S.C. will have to act without much help from Graham. I'm certain he was reelected because of "no choice". Things have changed a lot since the 2008 election and conservatives don't like much Graham has done. He'll have to change parties to stay in office.
OPEN LETTER TO ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS:Dear illegal aliens,
Be prepared to pack up and move, hey i hear california is a good place to live if you and illegal alien. Because as soon as the injuction is overturned by the supreme court you will no longer have to courts to override policy and then it will be open seaon on you. I do not have any personal animosity against you, I don't even know you, but if you want to come to this country do it the right way!!!! also this will allow what few jobs are left (that were not outsourced to china, irelan, india) to be given to those who were born here and/or naturalized citizens. It's time that you (Mr./Mrs illegal aliens & offspring) go back to mexico. If there are inequities then march, protest and fight to improve your country don't come to mine and protest, fight and march to make my country yours or to take my country away from me!!!!!!
I saw the news tonight where the Head SCLED said that they would not be
able to go after illegals because of cost and where to put them... Put them on a bus headed to Mexico...they don't have any problem going after American Citizens for simple possession. South Carolina has a high rate of people incarcerated which cost the state also. I'm not saying drugs are good but... they can send young people to prison for years. so that lame excuse about money and.. tying resources up going after illegals seems a bit of a stretch to say the least....and it
does not pass the smell test..Just like Washington no one cares to do anything about the illegal problem that we have in "OUR" Country. Just bury your head in the sand and presto no problem. Shame! Shame Shame.
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