South Carolina Cites 300 Firms for Illegal Workers

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South Carolina officials have cited more than 300 businesses for immigrant worker violations.

The State newspaper reported that state labor department officials cited 323 businesses in the first year of mandatory immigration checks for employees.

Labor department spokeswoman Lesia Kudelka said none of the businesses lost operating licenses. Kudelka also said there have been no repeat offenders. Repeat offenses can result in fines and the suspension of business licenses.

Lawmakers in 2011 required all businesses to use the federal E-Verify system to check the names and Social Security numbers of newly hired workers. The system is used to determine if the employee can work legally in the United States.

The labor department said fewer than 10 percent of the companies checked failed to comply with the law.