rapidcityjournal.com
David Montgomery Journal staff
Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 4:00 am

Legislators killed two bills targeting illegal immigration in a House committee Wednesday.

The bills' sponsor, Rep. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, said action is necessary because illegal immigration is contributing to depressed wages and crime.

"By having illegal immigrants here, it actually depresses the cost that law-abiding South Dakotans are paid to perform their jobs," Nelson said. "They're coming here to work, and they're taking money out of our communities and sending it out of our country."

One of the bills, House Bill 1139, would have revised identity theft rules to crack down on the use of stolen IDs by illegal immigrants. The House Commerce and Energy Committee killed it by a 9-4 vote.

The other, House Bill 1238, set up penalties for employers who hired illegal immigrants. It was tabled on a 7-5 vote.

Both bills had a number of opponents, including an aide to Gov. Dennis Daugaard, two members of the Catholic Presentation Sisters order and an array of business associations from around the state.

Lawmakers killed HB1139, saying it would simply duplicate work the federal government already does at extra cost to the state.

"By taking these steps, we're going to subject our state to further expense in prosecuting this type of case when it should be done at the hands of the federal government," said Rep. Mark Willadsen, R-Sioux Falls.

HB 1238 was criticized for its alleged extra cost, its negative impact on South Dakota businesses and the potential to be challenged in court.

Brenda Forman, a lobbyist for the South Dakota Dairy Producers, said the extra requirements would confuse businesses already trying to comply with federal laws.

Nelson shot back that businesses were simply trying to profit from cheap migrant labor, which he likened to slavery.

Despite the defeats of Nelson's two bills Wednesday, legislators aren't done dealing with illegal immigration. Sen. Craig Tieszen, R-Rapid City, is sponsoring Senate Bill 155, which also targets employers of illegal immigrants. It has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.

Contact David Montgomery at 394-8329 or david.montgomery@rapidcityjournal.com.

Read more: Illegal immigration bills die in legislature