A bill presented Monday in the Missouri Senate would give people a $1,000 reward if they turn in undocumented immigrants to the state highway patrol.
The so-called “bounty hunter” bill is sponsored by Sen.-elect David Gregory, R-Sunset Hills. It is one of at least seven bills introduced this week in the House and Senate by Republicans that deal with a problem that is important to President-elect Donald Trump.
Other immigration-related bills introduced in the first few days of the Legislature’s early bill filing period are similar to ideas that were put forward last year. Gregory’s bounty plan, on the other hand, would set up an online form for people to report alleged undocumented immigrants in their communities.
There is a $1,000 prize for anyone who reports an illegal alien and that person is later caught. This is what a summary of the law says.
Gregory’s plan also calls for the Department of Public Safety to create the “Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program.” This would train people to be bounty hunters whose job it would be to find and detain illegal aliens in the state. Anyone who has a license to work as a bail bond agent could apply for the jobs.
A person who is not from the United States and intentionally came to Missouri and is in the state when they are caught by a registered bounty hunter or peace officer would be charged with “trespass by an illegal alien.” That would mean they couldn’t get any kind of government help, vote in any election, get a driver’s license or pass, or ever legally live in Missouri.
Gregory, an attorney who is 39 years old, did not answer when asked for a statement.
The plan comes at a time when people aren’t sure if the government should handle immigrants.
In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out parts of an Arizona law that made illegal immigration a state crime. And right now, President Joe Biden’s government is fighting a Texas law that lets people caught crossing the southern border illegally be arrested and sent back to their home country.
Trump has said that on his first day in office, he will crack down hard on immigration.
At a campaign event in October, Trump said, “I will save every city and town that has been invaded and taken over. We will put these cruel and bloodthirsty criminals in jail and then kick them the hell out of our country as soon as possible.”
It is still not clear how the government would actually send back the 11 million people they think are in the US illegally. According to the Pew Research Center, about 1.1% of Missouri’s population, or 70,000 people, are here illegally.
Supporters of immigration say that undocumented workers help the state’s farming economy. On the other hand, Republicans say that the country’s borders let dangerous drugs spread.
This year, Gov. Mike Parson approved $2.2 million to send troops and troopers from the Missouri National Guard and the Highway Patrol to Texas to help with “Operation Lone Star,” their plan to police the border between the US and Mexico.
Parson made the news while on a trip to Texas, which has become a popular place for Republicans who want to talk about immigration.
Another member from the state to move south is Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby. She presented a bill on Monday that would let the governor set up an interstate compact to protect the southern border of the country.
Carter’s plan would also make it a crime for an alien to enter the country illegally. This would be a new offense that could lead to a $10,000 fine, up to seven years in jail, or being sent back to a federal port of entry.
This year, Rep. Jim Murphy, a Republican from south St. Louis County, also went to the border.
This week, he introduced a bill that would require companies to make sure all of their workers have the right paperwork.
Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, offered a package of immigration-related bills that include a bill that would fine cities $25,000 per day if they adopt “sanctuary” policies for immigrants.
Senate Bill 72 is the name of the bonus law.
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