House Committee Investigates Illegal Immigrant Crimes in Missouri.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – A House Committee is touring Missouri to gather community input on illegal immigrant crimes. This topic has sparked controversy, with many arguing that it addresses a problem that does not exist.
Elva Session, a local community member, shared her perspective. “Nobody is here because they’re working; they cannot lose even one day of work,” she stated. Session emphasized that many immigrants in Cape Girardeau are here legally. Having lived in the area since 1984, she has witnessed significant growth in the Hispanic community.
Session, along with other residents like Michelle Latham, testified before the committee. Latham expressed her concern over trends in states like Colorado and Ohio, prompting her to engage in local discussions. “I had multiple questions for the state representatives, and they answered genuinely and effectively,” Latham said.
State Representative Barry Hovis (R-Whitewater) explained the purpose of their meetings. “We’re trying to gather feedback from different areas. This is our sixth meeting,” he noted. Hovis reported mixed reactions at each location. In Kansas City, for example, many attendees expressed strong opposition to the committee’s focus.
“The speaker mentioned he had received many questions, which highlighted the importance of hearing directly from Missouri citizens,” Hovis added.
State Representative Del Taylor (D-St. Louis City) shared that speaking with constituents has been productive. “The main goal of these hearings is to investigate the truth about crimes and the statistics involved,” Rep. Taylor said. He emphasized that evidence shows illegal immigrants do not commit crimes at higher rates than native-born citizens; in fact, their crime rates are often much lower.
Cape Girardeau County Sheriff Ruth Ann Dickerson also attended the meeting, contributing to the discussion on community safety and immigration.
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