A Missouri lawmaker is responding to criticism of a law that would give citizens a $1,000 reward for turning in illegal immigrants.
And he doesn’t give in.
State Senator-elect David Gregory (R) filed in advance Senate Bill 72and proposes a bounty hunter program in which Americans could receive a substantial reward for reporting illegal immigrants to authorities.
The bill has been opposed and criticized by those who find the program burdensome and risky.
Gregory responded to the intense criticism by touting the benefits of the bill in a video posted to X on Friday afternoon.
When I ran for State Senate, I promised to make Missouri a national leader in combating illegal immigration.
Now I’m keeping my promise. SB 72 makes it a felony to be here illegally, and the bill will finally allow Missouri law enforcement to…find and arrest… pic.twitter.com/9hXvonbDGz
– David Gregory (@DavidGregoryMO) December 6, 2024
“Senate Bill 72 will finally give our police and communities the ability to protect themselves,” Gregory said. “This bill will make it a felony to be here in this state illegally. This bill will finally allow our law enforcement officers to arrest illegal immigrants.”
“And it will allow our Department of Public Safety to investigate, determine if someone is illegal and send bounty hunters to make those arrests,” he says.
At this point, Gregory addressed the most controversial aspect of the bill.
He added: “[m]Similar to Crime Stoppers and other federal hotlines, you will receive a $1,000 reward if you submit an anonymous tip that leads to the arrest of an illegal immigrant.
The Missouri lawmaker then addressed President Trump directly, telling him, “In Missouri, dangerous illegal immigrants are being gift-wrapped and held ready for deportation.”
WILD: Denver mayor threatens ‘Tiananmen Square moment’ if Trump deports illegal immigrants
Rand Paul warns Denver mayor who threatened Trump with deportations: You will lose and be deposed
The bill aims to bar illegal immigrants from voting, driving, receiving public benefits or legally residing in Missouri.
Gregory promises more updates to come
And how the bill could avoid certain pitfalls akin to anonymous reports to CPS, where neighbors sometimes report neighbors just because they don’t like each other.
Democratic Senator Brian Williams argued that the proposal would lead to discrimination. according to Fox 2.
“Right now it looks like the public is not just pointing fingers, but potentially facing various discrimination situations,” Williams said. “Missouri residents expect us to find solutions, not point fingers and turn people away from a public line.”
Javad Khazalei, an immigration and civil rights attorney, was much more forceful in his opposition.
“It’s a classic paper-challenging situation – you have to have your papers everywhere,” he says said KCTV. “This is Nazi Germany stuff.”
However, Gregory maintains that his bill would protect citizens and legal immigrants alike.
“Let’s do this right to protect our people because immigration is good,” he said. “Illegal immigration is bad.”
Republicans are currently in control of it Missouri Senate by a wide margin, 23-7. They have a lead of more than 2-1 in the House of Representatives. Still, it remains to be seen whether Gregory can rally enough support to push this bill through.
