Bill > SB1070

This bill creates comprehensive provisions related to illegal immigrants in Missouri, covering multiple areas of state law and government operations. The bill requires political subdivisions to verify citizenship or lawful presence before issuing licenses, mandates that state and local agencies verify immigration status when providing public benefits, establishes strict requirements for employers regarding employment of unauthorized aliens, and creates new criminal offenses and enforcement mechanisms related to illegal immigration. Specifically, the bill introduces a new offense of "trespass by an illegal alien" which carries potential life imprisonment, establishes a "Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program" to help identify and detain unauthorized immigrants, and requires state agencies to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The legislation also prohibits unauthorized immigrants from receiving most public benefits, obtaining state licenses, voting, or becoming legal residents of Missouri. Additionally, the bill requires agencies like MO HealthNet to collect and verify citizenship information, mandates DNA collection from arrested immigrants, and creates several new state funds to support immigration enforcement and related programs. The bill appears closely modeled on Arizona's controversial SB 1070 immigration law, with similar provisions aimed at aggressive state-level immigration enforcement.

Justice

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=449