ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) — A special committee convened in St. Louis as part of its ongoing hearings to address crimes linked to unauthorized border entry and their effects on Missouri residents.
The “Special Interim Committee on Illegal Immigrant Crimes,” formed in July by Missouri Speaker of the House Dean Plocher, has previously met in other cities, including Kansas City and Springfield.
Rep. Lane Roberts, the Republican chair of the committee, explained that the focus of the hearings is to collect information on crimes in the state related to cartel activity, the fentanyl trade, human trafficking, and other offenses connected to illegal trade networks near the US-Mexico border.
“Our main concern is crimes associated with immigration, not only those committed by immigrants but also crimes against them,” Roberts stated. “We currently lack data on this issue.”
The committee has faced criticism for using the term “Illegal Immigrant,” which some argue carries racial connotations. On Tuesday, several speakers questioned the motives behind the legislative effort.
Ness Sandoval, a professor at St. Louis University specializing in immigration trends, argued that investigating cartel-related crime should not be a priority for state legislators. Sandoval pointed out that Missouri, particularly the St. Louis region, struggles to attract foreign-born workers, unlike other metropolitan areas experiencing rapid growth.
He noted that in over 80 percent of Missouri counties, deaths now exceed births. In contrast, regions with higher immigration rates, such as the Austin, TX area, are expanding quickly and constructing new homes at a much faster rate than Missouri.
Sandoval emphasized that immigration should be a key factor in addressing future workforce shortages as the population ages and workers leave the state. “Business leaders are worried about the shrinking workforce,” Sandoval said. “The focus should be on how to address these issues looking ahead to 2040 and 2080.”
Roberts and other committee members maintained that immigration trends are separate from the crimes under investigation and their effects on Missouri residents.
Robert Stewart, who traveled from Arizona to testify on behalf of the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department, urged lawmakers to establish a special fentanyl task force and introduce laws targeting social media use related to drug and human trafficking.
“States need to improve forensic investigations,” Stewart said, “using cellphones to target major offenders.”
Sandoval agreed that discussing drug trafficking is important but stressed the need to differentiate between international crime syndicates and immigrants seeking opportunities. He expressed concern that terms like “illegal immigration” could discourage individuals who might otherwise contribute positively to the local economy.
“People have the choice to stay or leave,” Sandoval said. “And we are encountering some divisive rhetoric.”