Rep. Mace proposes tougher penalties for undocumented hires in S.C. during Myrtle Beach stop

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – South Carolina gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace says undocumented immigration is a problem in the state, particularly in Horry County.

“There are thousands of students we know based on data that the county has provided that English is a second language,” Mace says. “That is one, sort of, barometer to know where are a lot of the illegal immigrants, where are they living? Where are they going? And we know that there are a lot in Horry County.”

Mace, a Republican, says she proposed two immigration-related bills in the past seven days, one of which she introduced Friday afternoon in Myrtle Beach.

Outside Myrtle Beach City Hall, Mace proposed a bill that would impose tougher penalties on South Carolina employers who hire undocumented immigrants.

South Carolina gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace says illegal immigration is a problem in the state, particularly in Horry County.

Mace says South Carolina has required all employers to use the federal E‑Verify system since 2012, calling it one of the strongest laws in the country. The law requires employers to verify work authorization through E‑Verify for new employees.

“It was great work that the state did in 2012, but what it did not have was teeth behind it and incentives for businesses to follow the law,” Mace says.

But according to Mace, the penalties are too weak, with first-time offenders facing license suspensions of 10 to 30 days and no significant financial penalty.

The proposed legislation, the South Carolina Employer Immigration Compliance Act, would impose a $1,000 per day fine for each undocumented worker employed, starting from the date the employer knew or should have known about the worker’s status.

“I’ve heard from business owners that have had to compete with companies who are breaking the law and drastically reducing wages against the hardworking earners in South Carolina because they’ve hired illegal aliens,” Mace says.

Fines would increase to $5,000 per undocumented worker for a second offense and $10,000 per worker for a third offense.

The bill would expand license suspension penalties to 30 to 90 days for first offenses, 90 to 180 days for second offenses and permanent revocation for third offenses.

The legislation would also claw back state economic development incentives, tax credits, grants and abatements from violators.

Businesses found in violation would be banned from receiving state incentives for five years.

The proposed law would create a citizen complaint hotline, allowing anyone to report violations.

The bill requires at least 500 random employer audits per year targeting high-risk industries.

Currently, Mace represents South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House.

While members of Congress cannot introduce state bills, Mace says it would be easy for any state lawmaker to take the draft and introduce it themselves.

In total, Mace says she has proposed six bills in the past seven days. She calls herself the only gubernatorial candidate who will present policies and legislation she personally drafts, and says she is a product of the state House of Representatives.

Mace announced her run for governor in August 2025, and just two days later, she held a town hall in Myrtle Beach, saying it was important for her first stop on the campaign trail to be in Horry County.

A reporter asked Mace why it was important to make Friday’s announcement in Myrtle Beach.

“So, I spent the last four days in Washington, D.C., filing bills and working hard for the state of South Carolina in Washington, so I’m trying my best with the time that I have to be everywhere across the state of South Carolina,” Mace says. “Horry is Trump country, and it’s a very important part of the state, and we will be getting to every county as quick as we can.”

Mace also says she is focused on improving infrastructure and the cost of living in South Carolina.

Mace added that the bill she introduced Friday would help with the cost of living, saying “South Carolina workers shouldn’t see their wages forced lower because they have to compete against an illegal alien who doesn’t have the same expenses they have.”

Justin Bennett (D), Jermaine Johnson (D), Mullins McLeod (D), Pamela Evette (R), Josh Kimbrell (R), Ralph Norman (R) and Alan Wilson (R) are the other South Carolina gubernatorial candidates.

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