Missouri Republican proposes bounty hunter program to capture undocumented immigrants

Missouri state Sen.-elect David Gregory (R) has introduced a series of extreme anti-immigration provisions, including establishing a bounty program to help locate illegal immigrants.

Although Gregory won’t be sworn into the Missouri state Senate until Jan. 8, the Republican proposed a law called Senate Bill 72, which would implement a series of harsh anti-immigration provisions. The bill prohibits an “illegal alien” from being present in the state of Missouri. If a person is captured, they would be charged with a felony and serve prison time without probation or parole.

The bill also calls for the Department of Public Safety to develop a database for reporting illegal aliens via hotlines, e-mail and a reporting portal. Anyone who makes a report in which leads to an arrest would receive $1,000 as a reward. The same department would create the “Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program,” which certifies applicants to become bounty hunters to catch undocumented immigrants.

Gregory bragged about the bill protecting U.S. citizens in a video posted on X last Friday, telling President Donald Trump that “Missouri will have dangerous illegal immigrants gift-wrapped and ready for deportation.”

As I ran for State Senate, I promised to make Missouri a national leader in combating illegal immigration.

Now, I’m following through with my promise. SB 72 makes it a felony to be here illegally and the bill will finally allow Missouri law enforcement to find and arrest… pic.twitter.com/9hXvonbDGz

— David Gregory (@DavidGregoryMO) December 6, 2024

Gregory also reposted a comment made by conservative talk show host Jesse Kelly, who said he would be waiting in the parking lot of a Home Depot with a taser and zip ties.

If you need me I’ll be in the parking lot at Home Depot with a taser and some zip ties. https://t.co/2sEDQOPAuk

— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) December 6, 2024

St. Louis attorney Javad Khazaeli, a former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prosecutor, called the bill “Nazi Germany stuff” and told First Alert 4 “it’ll take one week for a Puerto Rican who has been harassed.”

Gregory served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2017-23, where he also co-sponsored legislation to ban abortion.