Missouri Proposes Bill to Recruit Bounty Hunters for Targeting Illegal Immigrants
The proposed legislation would enable certified bail bond agents to track down undocumented immigrants, while residents of the state could earn $1,000 by reporting such individuals.
A bill in Missouri is set to establish a program offering residents $1,000 for reporting undocumented immigrants who have been apprehended by licensed bounty hunters or law enforcement officials.
During the Biden administration, approximately 11 million individuals entered the U.S. unlawfully, predominantly across the southern border with Mexico.
The legislation would permit certified bail bond agents to pursue individuals who have unlawfully crossed the border.
If enacted, those undocumented immigrants who are apprehended would face felony charges and would be detained without the possibility of probation or parole. The Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) is tasked with creating a reporting system for residents to notify authorities about illegal immigrants via a toll-free number, email, or an online portal.
According to the bill, “Any person who reports an illegal alien that is arrested shall receive a $1,000 reward.”
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The state DPS will also establish a “Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program” that certifies individuals as bounty hunters tasked with locating and detaining undocumented immigrants within the state.
Licensed bail bond agents, standard bail bond agents, or surety recovery agents will be eligible to apply for this program.
Alongside creating the bounty hunter program, the bill will prohibit undocumented immigrants from being able to vote, obtain a driver’s license, access public benefits, or establish legal residency in Missouri.
The bill has garnered both support and opposition.
Selene Rodriguez, a researcher focusing on border and immigration policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, remarked to The Epoch Times that it’s reassuring to see states eager to collaborate with the federal government to reduce illegal immigration.
“It is already illegal under federal law to unlawfully enter the country and remain here unauthorized. Every state should uphold that law,” she stated.
Incoming border czar Tom Homan is preparing to initiate a large-scale deportation operation aimed at addressing illegal immigration during Trump’s forthcoming term.
Homan stated that individuals with criminal histories and those already subjected to deportation orders should be prioritized for removal.
Additional proposals put forth by Homan and Trump include reversing Biden administration border policies, declaring a national emergency while utilizing the military to assist in deportations, reinstating executive orders from Trump’s initial term, activating the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, and defunding NGOs that support illegal immigration.
Several states, including Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma, have enacted legislation granting local and state authorities the power to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants, although these laws are currently entangled in legal challenges.
Arizona passed a comparable ballot measure in November, which will take effect only if a similar law, such as Texas’s Senate Bill 4, remains operational in another state for 60 consecutive days.
Although Texas’s SB 4 became law in March, it remains stalled due to lawsuits filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and civil rights organizations.
Gregory has yet to respond to inquiries from The Epoch Times.
