South Carolina

States are increasingly considering laws establishing employment eligibility verification requirements. In South Carolina, one such bill has already been enacted. Though the demand for quick action that compels South Carolina lawmakers and their colleagues across the nation is understandable, creating a patchwork of uncoordinated verification systems undermines efficacy of existing and potential federal approaches.

Immigration and Employment Verification

Enacted Legislation

HB 4400: Final version (June 4, 2008) requires all employers doing business in South Carolina to either participate in the federal E-Verify program or only to hire employees that possess or qualify for a South Carolina driver's license (or another state license with similar requirements). Employers that use E-Verify are entitled to a presumption of compliance with all of the bill's provisions, whereas those that only use the driver's license option will not.  HB 4400 will also deny unauthorized immigrants public benefits, access to post-secondary education and the ability to own a firearm.

To view the final version of this bill, click here.