Measure targeting illegals shaped

COLUMBIA — The final version of the state's illegal immigration reform plan could be completed by next week, as Senate and House negotiators began work Tuesday on settling their differences.

Although most of the differences between the versions passed by each body are technical, the negotiators must decide whether to extend employee verification requirements to private employers, among a handful of meaningful differences.

"I don't really see a real gulf in our versions that we can't bridge," said Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, who is leading the discussion.

Both versions of the bill ask the federal government for authority to enforce immigration laws and require jails to verify the nationality of prisoners as well as long list of provisions that carve out enforcement powers for the state.

During the first organizational meeting, the panel passed over debate on the issue of worker verification standards for private employers, which is included in the Senate's version. The House bill addresses requirements and penalties for public employers and contractors.

They delved briefly into the issue of whether to include a provision from the Senate bill that calls for a 24-hour hot line and Web site maintained by the Commission for Minority Affairs where people can report issues involving illegal immigrants. The commission also would

gather information on illegal immigrants

being taken advantage of. No resolution, however, was reached.

Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, argued for raising the level of tax withholdings from 6 percent to the maximum allowable level of 7 percent.

He said many illegal immigrants claim as many tax exemptions as possible to keep the withholdings small and their paychecks larger, then they don't file returns. The 7 percent withholdings would kick in when an employer gets notice of a falsified Social Security number.

"This will be very effective because an illegal would rather go to a state they could claim a bunch of exemptions," Campsen said.

Campsen said he is concerned that the bill does not stop employers from using federal I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. There are no consequences for employers who hire illegal immigrants who provide invalid Social Security numbers and names, he said.

While that amounts to a significant shortcoming, Campsen said the bill accomplishes a lot toward reining in illegal immigration in South Carolina. For example, both bills crack down on illegal immigrants who commit identity theft and those who assist them in doing it.

The panel is scheduled to meet again Thursday and hopes to wrap up its work by Tuesday. Meanwhile, legislative staff will hammer out the technical changes.

Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@ postandcourier.com.