Rep. Nancy Mace introduced legislation Friday that would impose steep daily fines on South Carolina businesses that knowingly hire undocumented immigrants, marking a significant escalation in the state’s approach to immigration enforcement.
The proposed South Carolina Employer Immigration Compliance Act would fine employers $1,000 per day starting from the date the business “knew or should have known” it employed an undocumented worker, according to a statement from Mace’s office.
Golden Dawn Farms owned by Hans Jr. and Katie Breitenmoser on Thursday, July 17, 2025, in Merrill, Wisconsin. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
“If you’re hiring illegals to undercut your competitors and drive down wages for South Carolina workers, you’re going to pay for it,” Mace said. “A thousand dollars a day, every day, until you stop. And if you keep doing it, you lose your business license. Period.”
Beyond daily fines, the legislation would substantially toughen penalties for repeat violations. Under the proposal, businesses would face license suspensions of 30 to 90 days for a first offense, 90 to 180 days for a second offense, and permanent revocation for a third offense. Financial penalties would also escalate, with fines increasing to $5,000 per undocumented employee for a second violation and $10,000 per employee for a third.
South Carolina has required all employers to use the federal E-Verify system since 2012, but Mace argued that current enforcement lacks meaningful consequences. Existing penalties typically involve license suspensions of 10 to 30 days and do not include significant financial fines.
“We’ve had E-Verify on the books for over a decade,” Mace said. “It’s time to enforce it.”
Under the proposed act, employers who fail to use E-Verify would also face a $1,000-per-day fine. Businesses found in violation would be barred from receiving state incentives for five years, and the state would be required to conduct at least 500 random employer audits annually.
The legislation also calls for the creation of a “citizen complaint hotline,” allowing members of the public to report businesses they believe are violating employment laws.
Mace, who represents South Carolina’s Lowcountry, framed the proposal as a measure to protect workers and ensure fair competition among businesses. If passed, the bill would place South Carolina among the states with the toughest employer penalties related to immigration compliance.
