Congressman Nathan Deal is proposing a change in the long-standing federal policy that automatically grants citizenship to babies born on U.S. soil. Supporters of Deal’s proposal say “birthright citizenship” encourages illegal immigration. Opponents say the proposed law wouldn’t solve the illegal immigration problem and goes against the tradition of welcoming immigrants.

The manager of a Greenville poultry plant has been indicted on a charge he knowingly hired illegal immigrants. Prosecutors say Barry Cronic began hiring illegal immigrants at Columbia Farms in Greenville in 2000, and kept hiring them until a raid last October. The raid found more than 300 people working at the plant who were in the country illegally.

Steps to curb illegal immigration and prevent people from driving drunk are among new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in South Carolina.

Federal officials say there was a 63 percent increase in illegal immigrants deported from Georgia and the Carolinas in the 12 months ending in October.

Federal immigration agents have taken custody of a Lady’s Island woman who investigators say faked a quintuple pregnancy to trick people out of more than $1,000 in cash and gifts. Nancy Cantu pleaded guilty last week to obtaining goods under false pretenses. The Beaufort Gazette reported the woman’s name is really Erika Nieves-Abrigo.

Federal authorities say more than 58 people suspected of being illegal immigrants were busted in a massive raid on a Greenville chicken processing plant that has been under investigation for months. In all, some 300 people are being detained following the Tuesday raid at the House of Raeford plant. Authorities are checking fingerprints and releasing people in the country legally. They said those checks will take place all day.