1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

Senate Bill 72 in Missouri poses a grave threat to the civil liberties and human rights of undocumented immigrants. Allowing bounty hunters to track down and capture individuals based solely on their immigration status is a draconian and inhumane measure that harkens back to some of the darkest chapters in our nation's history. Such a policy would only breed fear, mistrust, and division within our communities. This bill represents an extreme overreach of state power and an unacceptable infringement on due process protections. Undocumented immigrants are human beings, not prey to be hunted. Incentivizing their capture with monetary rewards is dehumanizing and antithetical to our values of justice and human dignity. Moreover, the potential for abuse, racial profiling, and harassment is immense. We must reject policies rooted in xenophobia and embrace our identity as a nation of immigrants. Targeting vulnerable populations will only breed resentment and undermine public safety. Instead, we should pursue comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to legal status and upholds the civil liberties enshrined in our Constitution. This unethical and unconstitutional bill has rightly drawn widespread condemnation. I urge you to listen to the voices of your constituents who oppose this unjust measure and work to ensure Senate Bill 72 is defeated. Our communities deserve better than state-sanctioned persecutory policies that erode human rights.