JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Missouri lawmaker has introduced a proposal for a bounty hunter program targeting illegal immigrants.
The proposed bill would offer financial rewards to individuals who capture those they believe are in the U.S. illegally.
Senate Bill 72 was pre-filed in the Missouri legislature and is sponsored by House Representative David Gregory.
Gregory’s plan would pay Missourians $1,000 for locating and detaining illegal immigrants within the state.
The bill’s opening section states that anyone in Missouri illegally is “prohibited from voting in any election, obtaining a driver’s permit or license, receiving public benefits, or becoming a legal resident of this state.”
It’s worth noting that voting without citizenship is already illegal.
The bill also mandates the Department of Public Safety create a system for reporting violations.
Additionally, the bill indicates that funds for the program would be allocated by the General Assembly.
Legal experts are now responding, warning that offering a bounty for someone’s capture is “extremely dangerous.”
“This is essentially a ‘demand your papers’ situation – you would need to carry your papers everywhere. This resembles Nazi Germany tactics,” said Javad Khazalei, an immigration and civil rights attorney.
KCTV has reached out to Gregory for a statement and is awaiting his response.
A Missouri lawmaker has introduced a proposal for a bounty hunter program targeting illegal immigrants.
The proposed bill would offer financial rewards to individuals who capture those they believe are in the U.S. illegally.
Senate Bill 72 was pre-filed in the Missouri legislature and is sponsored by House Representative David Gregory.
Gregory’s plan would pay Missourians $1,000 for locating and detaining illegal immigrants within the state.
The bill’s opening section states that anyone in Missouri illegally is “prohibited from voting in any election, obtaining a driver’s permit or license, receiving public benefits, or becoming a legal resident of this state.”
It’s worth noting that voting without citizenship is already illegal.
The bill also mandates the Department of Public Safety create a system for reporting violations.
Additionally, the bill indicates that funds for the program would be allocated by the General Assembly.
Legal experts are now responding, warning that offering a bounty for someone’s capture is “extremely dangerous.”
“This is essentially a ‘demand your papers’ situation – you would need to carry your papers everywhere. This resembles Nazi Germany tactics,” said Javad Khazalei, an immigration and civil rights attorney.
KCTV has reached out to Gregory for a statement and is awaiting his response.