KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri State Senator David Gregory has introduced a bill aimed at imposing harsher penalties on undocumented immigrants who enter and stay in the state.
The proposed law would create a new offense called “trespass by an illegal alien.” Under this measure, individuals found guilty of this crime could face felony charges, with imprisonment and no possibility of probation or parole.
However, exceptions would apply if the federal government detains the individual for deportation within 24 hours.
Convictions under this law would also result in the loss of several rights. Offenders would be banned from voting, obtaining a driver’s license, accessing public benefits, or becoming legal residents of Missouri.
The bill also calls for the Missouri Department of Public Safety to establish a system for reporting violations, including a toll-free hotline, email, and online portal. People who report violations that lead to an arrest could receive a reward of up to $1,000.
In addition, the bill proposes the creation of a “Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program,” which would train and certify individuals to locate and detain undocumented immigrants.
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