Obama Admin Blocks South Carolina From Using E-Verify

The Obama administration has blocked the State of South Carolina from using E-Verify, and electronic system used by employers to check immigration status of potential employees. The state wants to use the system to check compliance and enforce immigration laws. Governor Nikki Haley has called Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano a number of times with no reply. Now she’s said enough is enough and sent a letter to Napolitano and gone public.She appeared with Greta Van Susteren last night. From the transcript:

HALEY: I think she owes me a response. My labor secretary was told the end of April we could not enforce our legal immigration laws. We got on the phone with secretary Napolitano’s office. We’ve repeatedly made phone calls, and the Obama administration did not respond.

So I sent a letter and went public Friday and said we have immigration laws for a reason South Carolina takes illegal immigration seriously let us enforce our laws. We to use this E-verify system, and I need the federal government to get out of the way. They have gotten in the way when it comes to health care, unions, and which companies can create jobs in South Carolina. Now they are getting in the way with the fact that I’m trying to govern a state, enforce illegal immigration, and they are keeping me from doing it. It has to stop and I’m calling them out on it.

VAN SUSTEREN: Also in Arizona another immigration law, the way they fought Arizona whether it is constitutional or not will be determined by the Supreme Court. They said immigration was a national issue. And they very much wanted Arizona to get out of it. To the extent they are not helping you enforce their law is curious.

HALEY: President Obama is saying he’s taking illegal immigration seriously. But it’s his administration that is stopping us from enforcing it. And saying one thing and doing another is the problem we’ve had with this administration in the beginning.

I’m trying to govern a state and manage my state and lead it in a positive direction. He continues to stop it every step of the way when it comes to good policy. We are not going to be quiet about it. This is something we take seriously in South Carolina. I’m going to be loud about it. I need to enforce legal immigrants in South Carolina and make sure our businesses are handling that accordingly. They owe South Carolina a response as to why they are keeping us from doing that.

Nikki Haley is the daughter of immigrants. Her parents came her legally.