From The Associated Press:
BY SEANNA ADCOX
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
COLUMBIA — The head of South Carolina’s labor agency said Monday that federal lawsuits challenging the state’s anti-illegal immigration law won’t affect the law’s mandate that businesses check their new employees’ legal status.
Director Catherine Templeton said lawsuits filed by the U.S. Justice Department and American Civil Liberties Union have no bearing on the part of the law her agency oversees. The two groups are asking a judge to prevent the law from taking effect Jan. 1, and to ultimately throw it out as unconstitutional. A hearing is set for Dec. 19.
But Templeton said neither lawsuit targets the requirements that all businesses run their new hires through the federal online system E-Verify, so her agency will begin enforcing those requirements regardless of what happens with provisions specifically challenged.
She contends that part is “in lock-step” with a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this year upholding an Arizona law putting rules on businesses. Using that May decision, South Carolina legislators tweaked a similar law they passed in 2008 as part of the larger anti- illegal immigration package they passed in June. (more…)
Filed under: Arizona-copycat laws, S.B. 20, Migrant Workers, South Carolina | Tagged: Larry Martin, E-Verify, Catherine Templeton, American Civil Liberties Union, U.S. Justice Department, Andre Segura, Immigrants' Rights Project, show me your papers, citizenship status | Leave a Comment »
