Bill prefiling for the 2025 legislative session has started.

“…The Department of Public Safety shall develop the “Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program” which shall certify applicants to be bounty hunters for the purpose of finding and detaining illegal aliens in this state…”

SB 72 Creates provisions relating to illegal aliens
Sponsor: Gregory (15)
LR Number:1003S.01I
Last Action:12/1/2024 – Prefiled
Effective Date: August 28, 2025

Current Bill Summary

SB 72 – This act creates the offense of trespass by an illegal alien which provides that a person shall be guilty of such offense if the person is an illegal alien who knowingly enters this state and remains here and is physically present in the state at the time a licensed bounty hunter or peace officer apprehends the person. Such an offense shall be a felony for a term of imprisonment without eligibility for probation or parole with certain exceptions as provided in the act.

Any person who commits the offense of trespass by an illegal alien shall be prohibited from voting in any election, receiving any permit or license to drive, receiving any public benefit, and becoming a legal resident of this state.

Additionally, the Department of Public Safety shall develop an information system for people to report violations of this act which shall include a toll-free telephone hotline, e-mail, and online reporting portal. Any person who makes a report in which an illegal alien is arrested shall receive a reward of $1,000.

The Department of Public Safety shall develop the “Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program” which shall certify applicants to be bounty hunters for the purpose of finding and detaining illegal aliens in this state. Any person with a license as a bail bond agent, general bail bond agent, or surety recovery agent may apply to the program as provided in the act.

Finally, this act creates the “Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program Fund” which shall consist of money appropriated by the General Assembly.
[….]

“WTF is going on?”

Your papers, please.

Better carry them with you.

‘This is Nazi Germany stuff:’ Civil rights attorney reacts to Mo. State Senator’s proposed bounty hunter bill

[….]

Lawmakers with ties to St. Louis are pushing new bills to create a bounty hunter program in Missouri. It would pay people to turn in people they think are residing in the U.S. illegally.

Senate Bill 72 was submitted on December 1 and is sponsored by Sunset Hills-based David Gregory, a House Representative who was elected to the State Senate in November. Gregory wants to pay Missourians up to $1,000 if they turn someone in.

[….]

“As a civil rights attorney that’s great for me,” Khazaeli explained. “It’ll take one week for a Puerto Rican who has been harassed. This is a classic demanding papers, you must have your papers everywhere. This is Nazi Germany stuff.”

Puerto Rico? In Missouri, yep:

Falling asleep in geography and civics classes – We’re number one! (September 12, 2009)

A Johnson County, Missouri woman was denied her regular driver’s license renewal at the Warrensburg, Missouri license bureau (a fee office) when she presented her Puerto Rican birth certificate as proof of American citizenship. People born in Puerto Rico are American citizens.

[….]

In St. Louis County, in November:

Unofficial Results
as of 12/5/2024 6:14:21 AM

State of Missouri – General Election, November 05, 2024

Office/Candidate Name Party Votes % of Votes
State Senator – District 15 181 of 181 Precincts Reported

David Gregory Republican 55,317 51.608%
Joe Pereles Democratic 50,176 46.812%
Jeff Coleman Libertarian 1,693 1.579%
Total Votes: 107,186

[emphasis added]

That ain’t a mandate.

German Nazi Swastika Flag, National Museum of American History. Catalog number
1977.0788.03, 29 in x 49 in; 73.66 cm x 124.46 cm.

And here we are.

If you’ve ever wondered what you would have done had you lived in Germany in the 1930s, you’re doing it now.