NEW: Missouri Lawmaker Proposes $1,000 Rewards for Turning In Illegals
Republican Missouri state Senator-elect David Gregory has introduced a bill that would create a program rewarding residents with $1,000 for reporting undocumented immigrants. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill No. 72, also includes provisions for training and certifying individuals as “bounty hunters” to locate and detain undocumented migrants under citizen’s arrest guidelines.
The bill establishes multiple pathways for reporting, including a hotline, email system, and online portal, to process tips. The program would also redirect federal funds currently allocated to Ukraine into its implementation.
Under the proposed law, individuals found to be undocumented in Missouri would face severe penalties, including life imprisonment without parole. The bill introduces a new offense—trespass by an illegal alien—applicable when an undocumented person knowingly enters and remains in the state.
“If an illegal alien is arrested and imprisoned under this section as a result of a report to the information system, the person who made the report shall be eligible to receive a reward of one thousand dollars for providing such report,” the bill reads.
🚨 REPORT: A lawmaker has filed to create a “migrant bounty hunt” that would award Americans $1,000 per migrant they turn in.
Divert all Ukraine funding into this initiative.
It would also allow certain trained people to become certified bounty hunters who can detain illegal… pic.twitter.com/nH2u8Uo19h
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 6, 2024
“The offense of trespass by an illegal alien under this section is a felony for which the authorized term of imprisonment is life imprisonment without eligibility for probation, parole, conditional release, or release except by act of the governor or the natural death of such person,” according to the bill.
“The department shall develop and implement the ‘Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program,’ which is hereby created to certify applicants to the program as certified bounty hunters for purposes of finding and detaining illegal aliens in this state under this section.”
The program includes:
- $1,000 rewards: Paid to individuals whose reports lead to the arrest and imprisonment of undocumented migrants.
- Certified Bounty Hunters: Licensed bail bond agents or surety recovery agents could apply for certification to actively locate and detain individuals without lawful status.
- DNA Collection: Arrested individuals would be required to submit DNA samples.
The bill establishes the Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program Fund to finance the initiative, emphasizing that all funds would come from diverted Ukraine assistance.
“We’re about to be a national leader in combating illegal immigration,” Gregory said on social media. “Talk about making national headlines. Senate Bill 72 will finally empower our police and our communities to protect themselves.”
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The bill’s provisions go beyond typical state-level immigration enforcement, introducing measures like permanent disqualification of arrested individuals from voting, obtaining state benefits, or becoming legal residents of Missouri.
The push for tougher immigration policies ha gained momentum, aligning with President-elect Donald Trump and Republican leaders nationwide who have expressed increasing concerns about the U.S.-Mexico border and immigration issues.
The bill now awaits committee review in the Missouri General Assembly, where it is expected to face scrutiny and debate over its scope and constitutionality.