Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway speaks to reporters on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at her office in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

As the effort to petition against Missouri’s new gerrymandered map ramps up, the latest Republican attempt to preserve the new map saw Attorney General Catherine Hanaway (R) get Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) involved.

In two X posts from last week, Hanaway announced an investigation into Advanced Micro Targeting (AMT), a firm working with People Not Politicians to collect signatures against the gerrymandered maps. Hanaway claimed without evidence that AMT is employing “illegal aliens,” and that she has referred the matter to ICE.

People Not Politician’s executive director Richard von Glahn accused the Hanaway of intimidation.

“What the attorney general did, seemingly siccing ICE on people exercising their First Amendment rights, isn’t about the law; it is about political intimidation and thuggery,” von Glahn said.

AMT’s president Billy Rogers also denied the allegations and told the Kansas City Star that his company abides by the law.

Hanaway’s office did not provide further details due to the ongoing investigation, but said updates would be provided when it is concluded. 

Republicans’ multi-faceted effort to gerrymander

After the new map — which effectively eliminates one of the Democrat-held congressional seats in Missouri — was signed into law by Gov. Mike Kehoe (R), People Not Politicians launched a petition effort to put the map in front of voters for approval.

After the effort gathered more than enough signatures, Republican groups began pouring money into the opposition, and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) wrote confusing ballot language for the potential initiative. The biased language spawned a lawsuit from People Not Politicians.

Republicans also claimed that over 92,000 signatures were invalid, and a consulting contractor began coercing volunteers to stop gathering signatures.