Missouri GOP bills target undocumented immigrants

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Multiple pieces of legislation targeting undocumented immigrants in Missouri are set to be heard by committees in the House and Senate on Monday.

One of the bills, sponsored by state Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring who is running for Governor, would impose a new criminal offense of “improper entry by an alien,” on anyone who enters Missouri when they’re not legally authorized to be in the U.S.

The bill sets punishment for the first offense at a $10,000 fine and immediate deportation. For any subsequent offense, the person convicted could get up to 7 years in prison, the same fine and deportation following the prison term.

Also, Eigel’s bill would force colleges and universities to verify that student applicants are in the country legally before they’re admitted, and blocks the General Assembly from funding any entity or program that aims to help undocumented immigrants.

Another bill, sponsored by state Rep. Brad Hudson, would require public employers with 50 or more employees to enroll in a federal, work authorization program. If the employer fails to enroll in such a program and is found to have hired an undocumented immigrant, then the state can lose all of its licenses, permits and/or exemptions for up to one year.

Hudson’s bill would also impose penalties for sex-trafficking an undocumented minor and create a Class E Felony criminal offense of ‘trespass by an illegal alien,’ which would automatically be tacked on to any misdemeanor committed by an undocumented immigrant.

Right now, it’s unclear how much crime in Missouri is caused by undocumented immigrants – as the Department of Public Safety says it does not track that information.

The bills are set to be heard in Committees this afternoon.