Posted on 03/09/2004 2:23:01 PM PST by yonif
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island and Beaufort County are looking at ways to prevent illegal immigrants from opening businesses in the coastal areas.
At a City Council retreat this week, Myrtle Beach officials asked their city attorney to draft an ordinance that would allow the city to ask on its business-license applications whether an applicant is a legal worker and whether the applicant will employ only legal workers.
The extra measures were suggested by Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride, who is running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
Myrtle Beach also passed an ordinance two years ago that allows its inspectors to make businesses prove their employees are legal workers.
Now, Hilton Head and Beaufort County are looking at adding similar lines to their business-license applications. The Municipal Association of South Carolina recently said it will advise island officials that adding the lines is legal.
"If you're illegal, you can be denied a lot of things," county councilman Frank Brafman said. "But this is a big question, and you need more than a couple of paragraphs to answer it."
He said the county still has to answer several legal questions and make sure denying applications would not violate laws protecting schooling and medical needs for illegal immigrants.
Myrtle Beach's attorney is in the process of drafting the business-license addition, city spokesman Mark Kruea said. The additions will not include language specifically targeting illegal immigrants, he said.
Kruea said Myrtle Beach's city attorney is investigating what documents would provide proof with minimal city verification. Kruea said the burden of proving legal worker status is intended to fall on the applicant, not the city.
Yeah right, just bring in a bunch of white guys who can open businesses that shamelessly hire them.
Agreed, but it's a shame. Those are the GOOD ones, the capitalists.
Myrtle Beach also passed an ordinance two years ago that allows its inspectors to make businesses prove their employees are legal workers.
Guilty until proven innocent?
HEY...I think you may be onto something here. Maybe we can set up a reparations account, and charge admission at the border?? 10 million peso's ($20) per crossing?
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