US government challenges South Carolina's immigration law

WASHINGTON: Obama Administration has challenged South Carolina's new immigration law signed by its India-origin Governor Nikki Haley, arguing that it is unconstitutional and against federal immigration authority.

"The Constitution and federal law do not permit the development of a patchwork of state and local immigration policies throughout the country," the Justice Department said in a statement.

"South Carolina's law clearly conflicts with the policies and priorities adopted by the federal government and therefore cannot stand," it added.

This is the third such law that the Obama Administration has taken on.

The department said that South Carolina's law would unduly burden federal agencies

It also will "result in the harassment and detention of foreign visitors and legal immigrants, as well as US citizens, who cannot readily prove their lawful status," the department charged.

Haley, daughter of Sikh immigrants, however believes her small, socially conservative state is within its local legal rights.

"As the daughter of immigrants who came to this country legally, Governor Haley understands that no American value is more sacred than the rule of law. That's what this is about, 'nothing more, nothing less,' Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey told Politico.com.

"If the Feds were doing their job, we wouldn't have had to address illegal immigration reform at the state level. But, until they do, we're going to keep fighting in South Carolina to be able to enforce our laws."