A controversial bill requiring local law enforcement agencies to assist in federal immigration enforcement passed the Republican-controlled S.C. House on April 1 in a party-line 85-30 vote.
Under the bill, any S.C. law enforcement agency that operates a detention facility must enter into a so-called 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The agreements can range from simply holding suspected illegal immigrants in local jails at federal request to street-level enforcement actions, such as accompanying federal officers on immigration raids and what critics call “show me your papers” traffic stops.
GOP supporters say the legislation is just a commonsense mandate that will put federal, state and local law enforcement officials on the same page, while Democrats argue that local sheriffs and police are best situated to make enforcement decisions for their own communities. About 37 local agencies in S.C. have voluntarily entered into 287 (g) agreements to date.
The bill now heads to the S.C. Senate, where it’s believed to have broad support among the supermajority of GOP members.
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