WCBD.com (SC) (01/02/12)

South Carolina’s new immigration law is now in effect, even though a federal judge put parts of the law on hold in December. Among the portions now in effect is a requirement for businesses to use E-Verify, an online program that allows employers to input information from required I-9 hiring forms and find out a new employee’s legal work status. South Carolina government jobs, including positions at public universities, have been screened with E-Verify since 2009, as have private jobs at companies with more than 100 employees.

With the new law, that requirement extends to all businesses. Employers that are not registered to use E-Verify will have a grace period until July. After that, businesses that violate the law will get a year probation and have their license revoked for repeat violations.