News and Press Releases for May 2006

Back to May 2006 Releases

05/04/2006

Gov. Sanford Issues Statement on Immigration Bill

Governor Praises House's Passage of H.5057, Asks for Action in the Senate

Columbia, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford today issued the following statement on H.5057, a bill that would require any subcontractor doing business with the state of South Carolina to verify the citizenship of people in their employ, with the purpose of limiting illegal immigration in our state:

"I'd give real credit to the House for passing a bill that takes a step toward sending a message that our state won't create an incentive for illegal behavior," Gov. Sanford said. "We're a nation of immigrants, but we're also a nation of laws. Legal immigration is part of what makes this country great, but we should never be in the position of sanctioning illegal behavior with a wink and a nod. Ultimately, our administration would be open to a bill that goes even further, like the one Senator Scott Richardson has proposed that would apply to all employers, not just state contractors. In either case, I'd urge the Senate to act to address this issue before the end of this legislative session."