Missouri Lawmakers Propose Controversial Immigration Bill with Bounty System

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A controversial immigration bill introduced by Missouri lawmakers has sparked heated debate, proposing felony charges for undocumented immigrants and a $1,000 bounty system for their capture. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. David Gregory (R-St. Louis County), would make it a felony to be in Missouri without legal documentation, punishable by up to life in prison.

“This bill would make it a felony to be here in this state illegally. This bill will finally allow our police officers to arrest illegal immigrants,” Gregory said during a legislative session. The proposed legislation also includes provisions for bounty hunters to report undocumented immigrants through a toll-free hotline, email, or online portal, with rewards of $1,000 for successful captures.

House Speaker Jon Patterson (R-Lee’s Summit) expressed skepticism about the bounty system during a news conference Thursday. “We are committed to making sure that we have legal immigration but that we don’t tolerate illegal immigration,” Patterson said. “I have not heard any enthusiasm from our members about doing any sort of bounty. I don’t think that’s something that you’re going to see on this side.”

The bill has drawn sharp criticism from immigrant advocates and Democrats. State Rep. Del Taylor (D-St. Louis) called the proposal “sad” and emphasized the contributions of immigrants to the state. “The immigrants are a vital component to our community. They are working in our fields, they’re working in our health care, they’re working in our restaurants,” Taylor said.

Jessica Rivas Middleton, whose family immigrated from Mexico in the 1960s and 1970s, condemned the bill as an attack on immigrant communities. “This is absolutely an attack. We are being targeted,” Middleton said. “When my family came, we literally occupied a whole block in the City of St. Louis. You cannot look at a person by the way that they dress or their skin tone.”

The bill also seeks to create a new criminal offense of “trespass by an illegal alien,” which would impose felony charges and imprisonment without eligibility for probation or parole. Supporters, including Lewis County Sheriff David Parrish, argue the bill would provide law enforcement with necessary tools to address immigration concerns. “This bill would give us more tools to stay focused on community safety,” Parrish said during a Senate committee hearing.

Advocates for immigration reform plan to testify against the bill at the Capitol in February, hoping to prevent its passage. The bill has undergone two Senate readings and is currently referred to the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety Committee, with no further action scheduled.