AIKEN - South Carolinians shouldn't fear Chinese products, despite recent reports of tainted toothpaste and Mattel's recall of nearly 1 million toys because of lead-based paint, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint said Friday.

The point is, those problems were caught, the South Carolina Republican said, and the consequences were high for companies.

"The incentive for industry is to do this right," he said.

Mr. DeMint, in his third year as senator, is using Congress' August break to travel the Palmetto State once again.

This time, he's focusing on security.

As he travels, Mr. DeMint said, he continues to hear a lot of concerns about illegal immigration.

Earlier this year, Mr. DeMint objected to the proposal, backed by fellow South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, that would have put more money toward border security. The legislation also included several provisions the bill's opponents dubbed amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Mr. DeMint doesn't think local governments should stop passing anti-illegal immigration ordinances, even though a federal judge threw out such a law last month in Pennsylvania.

The trend of local ordinances "does help force the point," Mr. DeMint said.

He said he understands people's frustration with lack of congressional action.

"Citizenship should mean something," he said.

"We've got these laws that, not only we're not enforcing, but we're also protecting the illegal immigrants, giving them rights, free health care, an education," he said.

He said the federal government needs to step up enforcement of current laws, expand guest worker and visa programs to help the hospitality and construction industries and work on creating a secure form of identification.

Mr. DeMint also believes:

- The federal government will help states implement the REAL ID mandate, including providing some funding.

- The potential expansion of Plant Vogtle in Georgia's Burke County is positive, and South Carolina likewise should continue to fight for nuclear-power plants.

- It's not the United States' job to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Darfur; it's the United Nations' job. And if the United Nations is not up to the task, then it's time to question the overall effectiveness of that organization.

"The United States is pulling the load for the whole world, economically, on the humanitarian front, and we've being blamed for everything that goes on," Mr. DeMint said.