A Bill in Mississippi Would Give Money to Bounty Hunters to Help With Deportations

A new bill in Mississippi could allow bounty hunters to work as paid spies helping government officials deport immigrants who are in the country illegally. On Wednesday, January 22, House Bill 1484 was announced, which will pay reward hunters $1,000 for every person they help take out of the state.

The Migration Policy Institute believes that at least 25,000 immigrants are living in the state without legal permission. Mississippi’s population stands at just under 3 million.

Continuing Trump’s immigration plans

De Soto County District Attorney Matthew Barton helped create the bill to build on President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Barton said, “He quickly saw the emergency at our borders and took action with executive orders to fight illegal immigration and cartels.”

President Trump plans to send thousands of ICE agents to the southern border through an executive order to boost enforcement and strengthen immigration controls.

Immigrant supporters are against the bill

Immigrant lawyers and advocates say the bill might cause racial profiling and fear among immigrant groups.

The ACLU of Mississippi has stated to The Washington Post that they have concerns about the bill’s wording. They point out that the bill defines a “illegal alien” as a person not legally in the United States but does not explain how to identify someone as “illegal.”’”

What will the bill accomplish?

House Bill 1484 describes a bounty hunter as a licensed bail agent who will be certified to detain undocumented immigrants in Mississippi under the new law. Bounty hunters usually look for people who miss court or don’t pay their bail. They receive a portion of the cash amount after they are caught.

The law makes it a serious crime for anyone to trespass in the state, punishable by a life sentence without the possibility of release unless the federal government deports them within 24 hours.

It also wants to take away rights like getting a driver’s license, voting, asking for government help, or becoming a legal resident of the state.