Haley Campaign Press Release - VIDEO: Haley's Tough Record on Immigration

CHARLESTON, S.C. – In 2011, Nikki Haley passed one of the toughest immigration laws in the country while Donald Trump was donating money to Kamala Harris. The Nikki Haley for President campaign released a new digital ad today highlighting Haley's long track record of combating illegal immigration when she was governor.

The bill required police to check the immigration status of anyone they stop or arrest for another reason and suspect may be in the country illegally and enacted E-Verify statewide. When President Obama fought Haley's E-Verify mandate, Haley fought back and won.

For more on her record, watch the video here:

"Nikki Haly passed one of the toughest immigration laws in the country when Donald Trump was still a New York City liberal donating to Kamala Harris. She knows that we are a country of laws, and the minute that we lose that, we give up everything this country was founded on," said Haley spokesperson Brittany Yanic. "South Carolinians know she'll be tough on illegal immigration as president because she did it already as governor."

Haley's Record on Immigration

As South Carolina governor, Haley signed one of the toughest anti-illegal immigration laws in the country.

• On June 26, 2011, Gov. Nikki Haley signed the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act, requiring police to check the immigration status of anyone they stop or arrest for another reason and suspect may be in the country illegally. The bill required South Carolina employers to use the federal E-Verify system to check the citizenship status of employees.
• The Post and Courier called these measures "some of the nation's toughest measures to curb illegal immigrants living and working here."

Haley went head-to-head with the Obama administration on illegal immigration.

• Haley fought Obama's DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano to enforce South Carolina's E-Verify law.
• South Carolina filed a suit challenging Obama's constitutional authority after he issued an executive order giving temporary legal status to millions of illegal immigrants.
• Haley fought the Obama administration on accepting Syrian refugees, undocumented minors, and Guantanamo Bay prisoners in South Carolina.

As UN ambassador, Haley defended Trump's travel ban.

• Haley defended Trump's travel ban on countries where there were serious terrorist concerns.

In April 2023, Haley visited 400 miles along the southern border and released a comprehensive plan to secure the border.