ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - There's a lot of attention on a Missouri State Sen-elect's proposal to offer a $1,000 reward to Missourians who report illegal immigrants to the state.
Missouri State Sen.-elect David Gregory, a Republican out of the 15th district, recently pre-filed Senate Bill 72 to the Missouri legislature, which would require the Missouri Department of Public Safety to create a "Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program".
Under current Missouri law, only federal agents have the power to arrest and detain illegal immigrants. Gregory's proposal would extend this power to state and local police, along with certified bail bondsmen, to make arrests based on immigration status.
"I have created a bill that essentially creates a state ICE program, that's what it is," said Gregory on The Chris And Amy Show this week. "It's the state's version of being able to crack down on illegal immigration. That's the states way to insure they are effectively cooperating with ICE as well."
Gregory's main proposal would make it a felony to enter the state of Missouri without legal immigration status. If caught by the police or a certifed-bounty hunter, the penalty is life in prison without parole unless federal authorities (ICE) take custody and deport the illegal individual within 24 hours.
"So right now, ICE is telling us they need cooperation from state and local law enforcement. They are telling us that, they are asking for it," said Gregory. "They also are telling us they are not getting enough of it. They are either getting minimal cooperation or no cooperation at all. That's a problem and this bill seeks to establish the framework that will force the entire state to cooperate with ICE."
Under the legislation, the Department of Public Safety would also create phone and email hotlines as well as an online portal where Missourians would be able to report alleged undocumented immigrants.
"It's actually modeled after the ICE tip line," said Gregory. "That's all we are doing. We are bring this to the states and this bill and this bill authorizes the creation of that tip line and allows individuals to report suspected illegal immigration."
If passed, the Senate Bill 72 would offer $1,000 reward program for reporting suspected undocumented immigrants leading to arrests. But only the police, or licensed bail bond and recovery agents, could legally act to detain someone.
The Missouri General Assembly's session begins Jan. 8 but no vote date for Gregory's bill has been set. The bill must go through committee referrals, hearings, and debates before reaching the floor.
The bill has drawn scrutiny, with one civil rights attorney recently calling it "worst written bill I’ve seen."
Gregory was asked by The Chris and Amy Show host Chris Rongey if he believes or envisions the bill could cause a lot of problems for people and maybe have unintended consequences or could potentially be abused.
"If someone is being reported, they wouldn't even know it," Gregory claims. "They would never receive any contact from any law enforcement unless they are in fact illegal and a warrant is issued."
As for funding, Gregory previously told KMOX-sister station 97.1 FM he isn't sure how much the proposals would cost and isn't sure how much how the budget for the Department of Public Safety will have to be boosted.
"The money would have to be appropriated for the program," Gregory told 97.1 FM. "It's a law enforcement program like anything else."