Missouri Bill, who gives a bounty for immigrants without papers

“This legislation promotes a climate of fear in which people do not feel sure that they themselves get involved with the most fundamental activities that go beyond work or school,” said Gabriella Cepeda, who announced the Hispanic Law Students Association the St. Louis University represented. “They are afraid of being profiled in prison or being in prison for life because they simply exist in the state without documents. It is not only extreme, it is cruel and unusual. “

The handful of supporters who represent law enforcement and a conservative Jewish group said that the state had to protect itself from human trafficking and drug trafficking in connection with lax border security.

“This legislation would only give the law enforcement authorities another instrument in the tool box to help our federal partners,” said David Parish, Sheriff of Lewis County.

Last summer, an interim committee of the Missouri House examined the problem of crime in connection with illegal immigration. The report published on January 7 did not draw any conclusions and reported that many of the witnesses said they feared problems that were feared with border communities that reached Missouri.

The report did not estimate the number of undocumented immigrants in Missouri, but studies show a significant economic effects.

Immigrants without papers paid state taxes of around 113 million US dollars in 2022, but cannot use the public services that support taxes such as Medicaid. Their economic activity supports 160,000 jobs and 19 billion dollars in the entire economic activity and offers “real economic stability that benefits all Missourians,” says the committee’s report.

Washington has shaped Gregory and Carter with questions about whether the state should exchange this economic support for a state without papers.

“We have 77,000 illegal immigrants that we have here in Missouri,” said Gregory.

“So you should all be exposed to this because you say that we should arrest them just because they are here?” Asked Washington.

“Yes,” replied Gregory.