S.C. Senate Wants to Set Up Refugee Registry

The South Carolina Senate has passed a bill setting up a registry for refugees that could be the first of its kind in the country if it becomes law.

The bill, which passed Wednesday and now heads to the House for consideration, would require all refugees to register with the state Department of Social Services. The information would be shared with state police. The bill holds the sponsor of a refugee responsible for damages if a refugee were to commit an act of terrorism.

Measures to make the registry public and ban any state spending on refugees were removed from the bill.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says South Carolina and New York are the only states that have proposed measures to register refugees.