South Carolina has always believed in protecting its citizens, enforcing the law, and standing firm when Washington refuses to do its job. In 2011, our legislature passed the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act — a strong, common‑sense measure that made it a felony to be in our state illegally. It sent a clear message that South Carolina would not look the other way.
But the Obama Administration immediately stepped in, sued our state, and succeeded in having key portions of the law struck down. We were told that immigration enforcement belonged solely to Washington, even as Washington refused to enforce it.
And then came the tragedy in Lancaster County.
Last year, Larisha Sharell Thompson — a young mother of two — was shot and killed during a robbery allegedly carried out by six illegal immigrants. Six individuals who should never have been here were free to roam our streets. The alleged gunman had already been arrested for domestic violence. Under a valid state immigration felony statute, he could have been detained long before this crime ever happened.
We cannot undo the heartbreak her family now carries. But we can decide whether we will learn from it.
Today’s legal landscape is different. When the federal government prioritizes enforcement — as President Trump is doing — states have far more room to act. A modernized Illegal Immigration Reform Act, aligned with federal priorities, would stand on much stronger constitutional ground than it did in 2011.
South Carolina should act now.
This is not about politics. It is about protecting families in Lancaster, Charleston, Greenville, Saluda County, and every community in our state. It is about ensuring that individuals who are here illegally and commit crimes are not simply cycled back onto our streets.
We do not need another tragedy to find our courage. If we have the ability to prevent another mother from being taken from her children, then we have a duty to use it.
