BY: MARY MCCUE BELL AND HANNAH TAYLOR
With national attention focused on immigration issues, Missouri legislators have joined in efforts to address the issue at the state level but have seen little progress midway through their annual session.
More than a dozen bills have been introduced, but the main activity on immigration has been two executive orders Gov. Mike Kehoe signed when he took office in January.
The push for stricter immigration policy comes after President Donald Trump signed 10 executive orders during his first week in office. Since then, several states, including Missouri, have introduced legislation to follow suit.
On the day Kehoe was inaugurated, he signed two executive orders dealing with how state agencies will handle immigration issues.
Executive Order 25-05 states that law enforcement systems will begin collecting immigration status from criminal offenders. In his second order, 25-04, certain members of the Missouri Highway Patrol will be trained in federal immigration laws. Once trained, these officers will enforce federal immigration laws, focusing on preventing illegal immigration, apprehending criminal offenders and intercepting drug trafficking.
Here’s what to know about proposed immigration policies making their way through the Missouri legislature.
Deportation, fines and bounties
Several pieces of legislation aim to limit or punish immigrants lacking permanent legal status.
Sponsored by Sen. Jill Carter, a Republican from Granby, Senate Bill 58 allows the governor to assist other states through an interstate compact in securing the U.S.-Mexico border.
Carter said her bill was designed as a catalyst for a broader conversation about how states are dealing with this “crisis,” which is classified into three main categories: humanitarian, health and public safety.
After a tumultuous committee hearing — with one witness calling a state senator a fascist and others carrying signs in protest — the bill won approval and is on the Senate calendar for consideration.
Also debated in the Senate Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety, SB 72 would create a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement program at the state level, said sponsor Sen. David Gregory, a Republican from Chesterfield.
The bill also makes entering the country illegally a felony in Missouri, which makes immigrants lacking permanent legal status ineligible to vote in elections, receive a driver’s permit or license, receive public benefits or become a legal state resident. Many of those provisions are already part of federal or state law.
Commonly known as the “bounty hunter” immigration bill, this would create a new program to train bounty hunters who would be allowed to arrest those in Missouri who entered the country illegally, Gregory said.
Speaker of the House Jon Patterson said in January he had not heard any enthusiasm from House Republicans for a bill that would put a bounty on immigrants lacking permanent legal status. Patterson said even if the bill makes its way through the Senate, it is unlikely to gain much support in the House.
Also sponsored by Gregory, SB 480 would require a court to determine whether a defendant charged with an immigration trespassing offense is seeking asylum. If they are not seeking asylum, the court can order that they be jailed until trial. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety.
Two bills, SB 137 and SB 282, would create the offense of improper entry by immigrants lacking permanent legal status with additional provisions, such as deportations. The latter, sponsored by Sen. Ben Brown, Washington Republican, would impose a $10,000 fine with incremental punishments, while the former, sponsored by Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield, would impose a fine of $100,000.
Sponsored by Rep. Richard West, a Republican from Wentzville, House Bill 540 would create the “offense of trespass by an illegal alien” for immigrants lacking permanent legal status who violate state law or county municipal ordinance. The bill has since been referred to the House Committee on Emerging Issues.
Another bill, HB 120, establishes the “Immigrant Employment Registration and Taxation Protection Act.” Sponsored by Rep. Jim Murphy, a Republican from St. Louis, the bill would require that the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations maintain a “database or registry of qualified immigrant workers.” Those who fail to provide the correct documentation to verify work authorization status would be charged with a felony.
The bill has not been assigned to a committee.
On a similar note, SB 528 would impose penalties for employers who fail to enroll and actively participate in a federal work authorization program. The penalties could be things like fines for employing an immigrant lacking permanent legal status. Sponsored by Minority Floor Leader Sen. Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, the bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on General Laws.
Sanctuary cities, employment
Sponsored by Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, SB 114 would fine communities that declare themselves sanctuaries for immigrants lacking permanent legal status $25,500 per day. The bill expands the offense of transporting an immigrant lacking permanent legal status to include concealment or encouraging one to come to Missouri. It would also allow law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws that establish criminal penalties. No hearing has been scheduled.
Current Missouri statute prohibits municipalities from adopting sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal requirements to verify or report illegal immigration statuses or grant one the right to lawful presence. HB 1163, sponsored Rep. Bill Lucas, R-DeSoto, clarifies that any municipality that adopts such policy would be prohibited from receiving state money. The bill has not been sent to a committee.
Rep. Wick Thomas, D-Kansas City, introduced HB 1051 to repeal the prohibition against sanctuary cities. Current law states if a municipality fails to suspend business permits of those employing immigrants lacking permanent legal status, it is subject to penalties. This bill would repeal the penalties. The bill has not been assigned to a committee.
Some bills would act as provisionary safeguards for immigrants, given aggressive efforts to question and detain members of certain ethnic groups.
SB 738 provides that if a person submits certain federal documents relating to employment authorization, they are eligible for a temporary professional or occupational license. Sponsored by Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, the bill is waiting to be read a second time on the Senate floor before being assigned to a committee.
This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.