#2,652 - Missouri Floats Program to Deputize Citizens as Migrant Bounty Hunters

A Missouri lawmaker wants to create a program which would give residents $1,000 payouts for reporting illegal immigrants in their communities to authorities. The bounty-hunter-style system was proposed by Senator-elect Davod Gregory, who wants to allow regular bail bond agents to be certified to go after those who crossed the border illegally. Gregory introduced Senate Bill 72 on December 1, and it includes bars for undocumented migrants on receiving benefits, a driver's license or the ability to be a legal resident of Missouri. American Families United President Ashley DeAzevedo said in a statement that the bill's introduction was "an alarming sign" of things to come in regard to anti-immigration policies.