16 Businesses Found in Violation of New SC Immigration Law

Sixteen businesses have been cited under South Carolina's new immigration law.

The law requires businesses with 100 or more employees to verify an employee's immigration status before hiring them.

Investigators began auditing businesses in July, when the provision enforcing large companies to be in compliance with the law went into effect.  Small businesses will not be audited until next summer.

Investigators are looking to determine that employers have verified their employees' immigration statuses, whether through the federal electronic database, by a South Carolina driver's license, or by a driver's license from another state.

If a business fails to verify an employee's immigration status they could be fined, however, if a business knowingly hires an illegal immigrant they could be shut down.

Jim Knight, spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, said the citations have amounted to more than $60,000 in penalty fines.  However, almost all of the fines were waived due to a provision to the law that states first-time violators can avoid a penalty if they agree to fix their verification process.

According to Knight, there has so far been a 97 percent compliance rate.

Senator Larry Martin of Pickens praised the success of the law, stating it is a sign that the verification system is working, and that Congress should continue using the system to push for more immigration reform.

If you are interested in learning more about the immigration laws in your state, click here to find an immigration lawyer near you!