Latest news with #SenateBill72
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republicans pass parental rights bills as Democrats allege children will be harmed
Rep. Jim Kofalt, a Wilton Republican, speaks in favor of Senate Bill 72, a parental rights bill passed by the House, June 5, 2025. (Photo by Ethan DeWitt/New Hampshire Bulletin) The House and Senate passed a pair of parental rights bills Thursday, sending one to Gov. Kelly Ayotte's desk, as Republicans advanced a yearslong goal to strengthen parents' control over public schools. Both bills, House Bill 10 and Senate Bill 72, would enumerate a number of powers parents have to request information from teachers about their children, including the courses they are taking, the materials being taught, and what their children are saying at school. The House passed another bill, Senate Bill 96, that would also require teachers and school employees to answer questions from parents, and could impose stiff penalties for teachers who don't provide the information. Under that bill, a teacher or administrator could be investigated by the Department of Education for violations and face disciplinary sanctions by the department. Teachers found to have 'willfully violated' the law would face a mandatory one-year suspension of their teaching license. Republicans said the legislation is meant to establish a state policy that parents direct the upbringing of their children — not their schools. 'Today, it's time that we deliver on our promises to Granite Staters by affirming that parental rights are fundamental,' said Rep. Jim Kofalt, a Wilton Republican. But Democrats have denounced the bills, noting that they could force teachers to disclose information about students to their parents that the students do not want shared, such as their sexual orientation or gender identity, and remove supportive spaces for kids. Rep. Peter Petrigno, a Milford Democrat, said SB 72 would destroy trust in schools and leave children who don't feel safe sharing things with their parents with few options. Should they confide in teachers, those teachers might be compelled to share that information to parents who inquire, Petrigno said. 'If troubled kids cannot talk with their parents for any reason, and they know they now cannot talk to their trusted adults at school, then where will they turn?' Petrigno said. But Republicans argued that in most cases, a child's parent is the best person to receive sensitive information about their children, not a teacher. 'If I know that most parents are way more trustworthy than teachers like Pamela Smart, then I will vote to pass this bill as amended,' said Rep. Debra DeSimone, an Atkinson Republican, referring to a former high school employee convicted in 1991 for killing her husband. Republicans also pointed to provisions in two of the bills, HB 10 and HB 72, that allow teachers to withhold information to parents if they have 'clear and convincing' evidence that the infringement upon parental rights is necessary to prevent the child from being abused. Democrats denounced that language, noting that 'clear and convincing' is a higher legal standard than is typically required to report a child to the Division for Children, Youth, and Families and arguing that it would effectively bar teachers from withholding information from parents even if they had suspicion that it could lead to abuse. RSA 169-C:29 currently requires any teacher, school staff member, or other professional who interacts with children to make a report to DCYF if they have 'reason to suspect' abuse or neglect. In regard to that exception, one of the bills that passed, SB 96, differs from the other two. While HB 10 and SB 72 require 'clear and convincing' evidence of abuse for a teacher to opt not to share information with parents, SB 96 allows a teacher to refrain from giving the information 'if a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect.' But SB 96 allows the exception only if the child has been physically harmed or has been threatened to be harmed 'of such a grave nature by the actions or inactions' of a parent that it justifies withholding information. The bill states the exception does not apply to 'potential or actual psychological or emotional injury' that a parent imposes on a child upon learning information about their child. It does not apply to 'emotions such as anger, disappointment, sadness, disapproval or other behaviors.' HB 10 passed the House and the Senate Thursday and will head to Ayotte in the coming weeks; SB 72 and SB 96 both passed the House but had not yet received a final green light from the Senate as of Thursday afternoon.
Miami Herald
24-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Colorado legislators tightened regulation of the herbal remedy kratom. But will Gov. Jared Polis veto the bill?
DENVER - As Gov. Jared Polis ponders a bill to increase Colorado's regulation of the herbal remedy kratom, Dave Bregger said he feels like he's on "pins and needles." The bill on Polis's desk bears the name of Bregger's son - Daniel Bregger, a 33-year-old Denver resident who died in 2021 after ingesting kratom and diphenhydramine, a common ingredient in Benadryl and sleep aids. But whether Polis will sign the bill into law or not remains a mystery. Supporters of Senate Bill 72 pushed the legislation through on the last day of the session after using a rare parliamentary maneuver. They say the new law would help rein in the most dangerous forms of kratom, while leaving consumer choice intact. Industry opponents - including one company employing unconventional methods - are pushing for a veto, arguing the law would sow confusion in a growing market and ultimately harm consumers looking for a safe, effective product. Kratom, a traditional herbal remedy from Southeast Asia, has exploded in popularity and availability in the United States over the past decade. Proponents point to the plant's potential for a variety of uses, including as a stimulant or pain reliever, or as treatment for depression, anxiety and opioid withdrawal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned against the use of kratom because of the herb's potential for addiction, liver toxicity and seizures. The Harvard Medical School warns of "considerable uncertainty of (kratom's) health risks," including a lack of regulation. But a general lack of independent research means there's not enough information for a definitive conclusion about the plant, either. Supporters of kratom argue that the herb by itself has proven safe for tens of millions of consumers, though tragedy has struck some, including Daniel Bregger. A 2024 Washington Post analysis found kratom implicated in 846 deaths across 30 states and Washington, D.C., in 2022, though the vast majority involved other substances as well. Daniel Bregger's father, Dave, said his son was a healthy young man enjoying the best of Colorado with his brother - hiking, mountain biking, skiing - and simply looking for a natural treatment for anxiety. Kratom and diphenhydramine, however, had a severe interaction that led to his death. Knowing kratom has shown promise for some people's pain management, Dave Bregger doesn't want a ban, he said. He just wants stronger warnings and regulations to stop other parents from feeling their world shatter. Bill's supporters deploy 'super motion' Colorado lawmakers passed SB 72 to build on existing regulations for the emerging product. If the bill becomes law, sellers would need to bar kratom from being sold as candy or in a way that appeals to children, increase labeling requirements and limit how much kratom's more potent active compound, 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly marketed as 7-OH, can be found in the product. The state already bars the sale of kratom to people younger than 21 under a law Polis signed in 2022. The new law's labeling requirements would include a warning that kratom can have unforeseen interactions with certain medications, in the hopes of preventing future deaths. The bill was pared back from Sen. Kyle Mullica's original vision of a new license to sell kratom because of Colorado's budget crunch. He didn't "want to sit idly by" waiting for the state's fiscal outlook to improve while, in his view, a potential public health crisis emerged around an underregulated drug. "They're selling it at every smoke shop," said Mullica, a Thornton Democrat and emergency room nurse. "They want to make it seem like it's this healthy thing and it's causing real harm. It has very addictive properties." The bipartisan bill faced a wave of pushback and an unusual path to passage. After the bill passed the Senate with 30 of 35 members voting yes, supporters in the House used a so-called "super motion" to clear a key committee in the waning days of the legislative session. A super motion, in effect, bypasses a committee hearing - and the chair, who controls the agenda - to force a bill to the floor for consideration by the whole chamber. Rep. Matt Soper, a Delta Republican and sponsor of the bill, said it was the first time in more than 30 years the parliamentary maneuver had been used. The tactic paid off. The House voted 47-18 to pass the bill. Now, the measure sits on Polis' desk, with no clear indication if the governor will sign it into law. He has until June 6 to veto the measure. "Governor Polis is reviewing the final form of the bill, inclusive of the changes that were made at the end of the process," spokesperson Shelby Wieman said in a statement. The bill went through several amendments in its final week before passing on the last day of the legislative session. Pushing for veto with $30 gift cards The industry, meanwhile, has been jockeying for a veto. Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust, or HART, an advocacy group for plant-based treatments, including kratom, said in a statement that the bill "fails to create any meaningful regulation" for the industry and called the measure "hastily written and ill-considered." In an interview, members of the group said they want more regulation for the industry - but they want clear regulation and clear enforcement. The crux of the complaint fell on how the state defines concentration limits for 7-OH, the key compound in some kratom products' effects. The bill creates artificial limits on the compound, while leaving loopholes for bad actors looking to game the percentage-based limit, said Kyle Ray, a board member for the trust and president of kratom manufacturer Colorado Chromatography. Because the bill limits the percentage of the 7-OH compound, manufacturers could bump up the total amount of other ingredients and create an overall less safe product. "There is no regulator, there is no licensing process where they have to come inspect your facility," Ray said. "That is beyond frustrating. It's dangerous for the consumer." He also advocated for the compound as a "powerful harm reduction tool" against opioid addiction and overdose because of how it interacts with the body's chemical receptors. Some medical professionals have questioned how effective kratom is in treating opioid addiction. While the bill wouldn't ban the 7-OH compound - something Ray is grateful for - other members of the trust have still made it a rallying cry. CBD American Shaman, a national distributor based in Kansas City, Missouri, and a member of HART, urged customers to "Protect 7-OH–Stop Colorado SB 72!" - and offered people $30 worth of product if they sent their state representatives a prewritten email about it. CBD American Shaman did not return a request for comment. Jeff Smith, national policy director for HART, said in a statement "that some small businesses are turning to creative strategies to engage and mobilize their customers in the face of what they see as existential threats to their companies." "Our focus at HART remains on promoting responsible, evidence-based regulation of kratom and 7-OH, and ensuring that the voices of consumers, patients and small businesses are part of that conversation," Smith added. 'Giving people information - that works' Soper and Mullica, the bill sponsors, each said they'd never seen advocates on any side of a bill try to essentially pay customers to lobby an issue. It's not immediately clear if the practice is explicitly barred. The Colorado Secretary of State's Office declined to comment because a complaint could be filed about the practice, though none had been as of midweek. They both see the bill as a win, if Polis signs it, particularly for addressing access by people younger than 21 and limits on synthetic products. They both said the push is about informing the public about what they're consuming, not a ban. "I would be lobbying to have it vetoed myself if it were an outright ban," Soper said. "Prohibitions don't work. Outright bans don't work. But giving people information - that works." Meanwhile, Dave Bregger, whose son died from the mix of kratom and diphenhydramine, is also waiting for Polis's decision. He's asked for a signing ceremony and an invitation, if Polis makes it law. "We've got to start somewhere. Watered down as it is, we've got to be able to build on it in future years," Dave Bregger said. "Doing nothing at this point would just be exasperating to me. Something has got to be done. It's a plague in Colorado." _____ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
CNN
01-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
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A bill before the Missouri State Senate would introduce $1,000 rewards for people identifying undocumented immigrants who are then taken into custody. The proposal would make it a state felony for anyone in the US illegally to enter and stay in Missouri. It would create an opportunity for licensed bond agents to become bounty hunters. And it would create a fund not just for the bounty hunters, but anyone who provides information on an undocumented individual that results in their arrest. Senate Bill 72 is still in committee and may never become law. But opponents say it's already spreading fear and changing the lives of both legally residing and undocumented immigrants. 'It's really hateful,' Ashley Chavarria told CNN. Chavarria is the US-born daughter of two Mexicans who came across the border illegally in the late 1980s and have stayed ever since. She said she's already seen Latinos, some undocumented, in Missouri's capital Jefferson City area staying away from English classes and even afraid to collect their children from school since the inauguration of President Donald Trump and the onset of his mass deportation drive. And the new bill could make things worse, added Chavarria, who works at a social service agency for Hispanic communities made up of both citizens and non-citizens. 'It's actually going to put more fear into people and turn people against each other,' she said. The bill's sponsor, freshman state Sen. David Gregory took time to criticize what he said had been misinformation about his plan both when introducing the legislation and in a short interview with CNN. 'I'm hearing things like 'oh, this places a bounty on people.' No, it doesn't' he said. 'Just because we're dispatching bounty hunters after a warrant has been issued is not a bounty. It's actually a reward system through a hotline.' The bill creates a felony of 'trespass by an illegal alien' if an undocumented immigrant enters and stays in the state. The text of the bill talks of setting up a toll-free phone line, email address and online portal where people could — anonymously if they wish — report suspected violators. If an undocumented immigrant 'is arrested and imprisoned…as a result of a report to the information system, the person who made the report shall be eligible to receive a reward of $1,000,' it says. Gregory insists that incentive is a reward — similar to those offered by local and national law enforcement agencies seeking information on crimes — and not a 'bounty.' Merriam-Webster defines 'bounty' as 'a reward, premium, or subsidy especially when offered or given by a government: such as 'a payment for the capture of or assistance in the capture of an outlaw.' In the bill, the punishment for violating the 'trespass by illegal alien' felony is life imprisonment without parole, though it says someone could be released to the custody of the federal government if they were going to be deported within 24 hours. Gregory, who represents parts of St. Louis, told CNN he had heard opposition to the life term and was discussing it with fellow senators. A separate bill he introduced said a court may conditionally release a defendant charged with the state trespassing felony during their initial court appearance if it 'finds that the defendant is seeking asylum and does not pose a danger to the community.' However, if a 'court finds that the defendant is seeking asylum but poses a danger to the community, the defendant shall be denied bail entirely,' and remain in custody throughout the course of their trial, the bill states. The bill would only go into effect if Senate Bill 72 became law. Gregory emphasized people would only be approached and detained after an investigation finds evidence against them and a warrant is issued by a judge. 'These concerns we're hearing that bounty hunters are just going to be kicking in doors, that's illegal. It's illegal now, it's illegal under my bill,' Gregory told CNN. 'When I'm hearing other types of harassment concerns or things like normal, everyday citizens walking up and saying, 'hey, you show me your papers,' — that's illegal. That's illegal today. And it's illegal under my bill,' he said. Those concerns were raised by some of the dozens of people who spoke against the bill during a senate committee hearing. 'This bill would not only tear apart families, schools and congregations and communities, but also pit neighbors against one another,' said Yazmin Bruno-Valdez, who introduced herself as a longtime Missouri resident, community advocate and 'Dreamer' who was brought to the US as a child and is currently allowed to remain. Immigration and civil rights attorney Javad Khazaeli told CNN Gregory's stated intention could be overrun if the bill becomes law. 'When you put bounties on people, you're incentivizing grabbing people,' he said in an interview. 'And when you grab people, bad things happen.' Khazaeli, who's based in St. Louis, spent a decade as a federal government lawyer advising officers in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies about immigration law. He was aware of times when local law enforcement officers would seek training on immigration regulations as they targeted a specific safety problem. But even with training, there would almost inevitably be problems, he said. 'We saw issues where local law enforcement officers were arresting Puerto Ricans because they thought Puerto Rico wasn't part of America. Every time you have any kind of interaction like this, the only possible way for the person on the other end who's being harassed to get out of it is by showing their papers.' 'Now this is exactly — and I'm not trying to be hyperbolic here — but this is exactly what we had in Nazi Germany,' he added. That being said, it could be surprising that the lone voice from a member of the public supporting Gregory's bill in committee came from Rabbi Ze'ev Smason. Smason, a rabbi in St Louis for 25 years, rejected the comparisons to the Holocaust. 'What exactly were they doing in Nazi Germany? They were turning in neighbors if they had a 16th of Jewish blood within them and then they took them in cattle cars and they exterminated them. That's what was done in Nazi Germany. Is that what's being done over here?' he asked. 'I see no reasonable comparison between the two,' he added. He told CNN it was a matter of justice. 'I think people, even though we're not a border state, are very concerned about illegal immigration … because it's an abrogation of the law and, in general, a spirit of lawlessness is something that's destructive to our community and our country,' he said. Mistakes could be made, he conceded, but he trusted in the judicial system. 'I'd like to think that most of the time our police and our courts get it right,' he said. Lawyer Khazaeli said the publicity around Gregory's bill has already had a chilling effect, even on immigrants with legal status. 'I'm seeing people who've been in this country for decades, legally, terrified,' he said, mentioning one woman from Europe who had been a legal permanent resident for 30 years, now looking to become a citizen because she was afraid of what could happen. At the state capitol, Gregory said: 'My intention is to make sure that we, as a state, can step up … and protect our women and our children and our Missourians from the dangerous immigrants. I'm sorry that that scares them but that is not the intent.' He said he was optimistic the bill would pass but that it would take time. If the senate progresses the bill, it will go to the state House of Representatives. In a statement to CNN, Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson wrote, 'I have not heard any enthusiasm from House Republicans about doing any bounty hunter legislation. We are pleased that President Donald Trump is addressing illegal immigration at the federal level, including by signing the Laken Riley Act, which enables states to work with the federal government on immigration.' A similar bill put forward by the Mississippi Legislature was killed in early February. That bill had many of the hallmarks of Missouri Senate Bill 72 including: a $1,000 reward for tips that led to the arrest of undocumented immigrants, the creation of a 'certified bounty hunter' program, and also the threat of life in prison. The American Immigration Council estimated there were nearly 70,000 undocumented immigrants living in Missouri. State Attorney General Andrew Bailey said there were up to about 100,000. They include Chavarria's parents, who Chavarria said currently have work permits but are also in the process of trying to legalize their status. 'I've never seen my parents asking for a handout,' Chavarria said, rejecting some narratives used against migrants. Chavarria also said she wanted criminals off the streets whatever their citizenship, as did the people she knew. 'The right immigrants know that we have to respect a country that we're not citizens of,' she said. 'They're aware of that and that's what they do.' Now with children of her own, she has at times struggled to explain this moment in American politics. They're 8 and 9 years old. 'They tell me that the kids in school will scream 'Trump, Trump, Trump', and I tell them like, well, that's OK,' she said. 'I do try to let them know just to always be proud of who they are,' she explained. 'I don't go very in depth with them because they don't understand,' she added. 'The system is way broken,' she said. 'I wish we could put the effort that we're putting into deporting all these immigrants, I wish that that effort could go into fixing that system, setting it up to where there's an actual pathway to citizenship or residency,' she told CNN. But for this bill and this moment, Khazaeli said he and other lawyers were ready. 'If they push this forward, we're just going to sue them and we're going to win,' he said. 'They're going to start arresting people that they have no right to arrest, they're going to start detaining people that they have no right to detain.' He said he was concerned that even if the 'bounty' part of the bill got dropped, other measures he sees as too extreme could pass. 'This could happen in Missouri, and we're preparing for that.'
CNN
01-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Missouri bill would offer $1,000 to help turn in undocumented immigrants
A bill before the Missouri State Senate would introduce $1,000 rewards for people identifying undocumented immigrants who are then taken into custody. The proposal would make it a state felony for anyone in the US illegally to enter and stay in Missouri. It would create an opportunity for licensed bond agents to become bounty hunters. And it would create a fund not just for the bounty hunters, but anyone who provides information on an undocumented individual that results in their arrest. Senate Bill 72 is still in committee and may never become law. But opponents say it's already spreading fear and changing the lives of both legally residing and undocumented immigrants. 'It's really hateful,' Ashley Chavarria told CNN. Chavarria is the US-born daughter of two Mexicans who came across the border illegally in the late 1980s and have stayed ever since. She said she's already seen Latinos, some undocumented, in Missouri's capital Jefferson City area staying away from English classes and even afraid to collect their children from school since the inauguration of President Donald Trump and the onset of his mass deportation drive. And the new bill could make things worse, added Chavarria, who works at a social service agency for Hispanic communities made up of both citizens and non-citizens. 'It's actually going to put more fear into people and turn people against each other,' she said. The bill's sponsor, freshman state Sen. David Gregory took time to criticize what he said had been misinformation about his plan both when introducing the legislation and in a short interview with CNN. 'I'm hearing things like 'oh, this places a bounty on people.' No, it doesn't' he said. 'Just because we're dispatching bounty hunters after a warrant has been issued is not a bounty. It's actually a reward system through a hotline.' The bill creates a felony of 'trespass by an illegal alien' if an undocumented immigrant enters and stays in the state. The text of the bill talks of setting up a toll-free phone line, email address and online portal where people could — anonymously if they wish — report suspected violators. If an undocumented immigrant 'is arrested and imprisoned…as a result of a report to the information system, the person who made the report shall be eligible to receive a reward of $1,000,' it says. Gregory insists that incentive is a reward — similar to those offered by local and national law enforcement agencies seeking information on crimes — and not a 'bounty.' Merriam-Webster defines 'bounty' as 'a reward, premium, or subsidy especially when offered or given by a government: such as 'a payment for the capture of or assistance in the capture of an outlaw.' In the bill, the punishment for violating the 'trespass by illegal alien' felony is life imprisonment without parole, though it says someone could be released to the custody of the federal government if they were going to be deported within 24 hours. Gregory, who represents parts of St. Louis, told CNN he had heard opposition to the life term and was discussing it with fellow senators. A separate bill he introduced said a court may conditionally release a defendant charged with the state trespassing felony during their initial court appearance if it 'finds that the defendant is seeking asylum and does not pose a danger to the community.' However, if a 'court finds that the defendant is seeking asylum but poses a danger to the community, the defendant shall be denied bail entirely,' and remain in custody throughout the course of their trial, the bill states. The bill would only go into effect if Senate Bill 72 became law. Gregory emphasized people would only be approached and detained after an investigation finds evidence against them and a warrant is issued by a judge. 'These concerns we're hearing that bounty hunters are just going to be kicking in doors, that's illegal. It's illegal now, it's illegal under my bill,' Gregory told CNN. 'When I'm hearing other types of harassment concerns or things like normal, everyday citizens walking up and saying, 'hey, you show me your papers,' — that's illegal. That's illegal today. And it's illegal under my bill,' he said. Those concerns were raised by some of the dozens of people who spoke against the bill during a senate committee hearing. 'This bill would not only tear apart families, schools and congregations and communities, but also pit neighbors against one another,' said Yazmin Bruno-Valdez, who introduced herself as a longtime Missouri resident, community advocate and 'Dreamer' who was brought to the US as a child and is currently allowed to remain. Immigration and civil rights attorney Javad Khazaeli told CNN Gregory's stated intention could be overrun if the bill becomes law. 'When you put bounties on people, you're incentivizing grabbing people,' he said in an interview. 'And when you grab people, bad things happen.' Khazaeli, who's based in St. Louis, spent a decade as a federal government lawyer advising officers in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies about immigration law. He was aware of times when local law enforcement officers would seek training on immigration regulations as they targeted a specific safety problem. But even with training, there would almost inevitably be problems, he said. 'We saw issues where local law enforcement officers were arresting Puerto Ricans because they thought Puerto Rico wasn't part of America. Every time you have any kind of interaction like this, the only possible way for the person on the other end who's being harassed to get out of it is by showing their papers.' 'Now this is exactly — and I'm not trying to be hyperbolic here — but this is exactly what we had in Nazi Germany,' he added. That being said, it could be surprising that the lone voice from a member of the public supporting Gregory's bill in committee came from Rabbi Ze'ev Smason. Smason, a rabbi in St Louis for 25 years, rejected the comparisons to the Holocaust. 'What exactly were they doing in Nazi Germany? They were turning in neighbors if they had a 16th of Jewish blood within them and then they took them in cattle cars and they exterminated them. That's what was done in Nazi Germany. Is that what's being done over here?' he asked. 'I see no reasonable comparison between the two,' he added. He told CNN it was a matter of justice. 'I think people, even though we're not a border state, are very concerned about illegal immigration … because it's an abrogation of the law and, in general, a spirit of lawlessness is something that's destructive to our community and our country,' he said. Mistakes could be made, he conceded, but he trusted in the judicial system. 'I'd like to think that most of the time our police and our courts get it right,' he said. Lawyer Khazaeli said the publicity around Gregory's bill has already had a chilling effect, even on immigrants with legal status. 'I'm seeing people who've been in this country for decades, legally, terrified,' he said, mentioning one woman from Europe who had been a legal permanent resident for 30 years, now looking to become a citizen because she was afraid of what could happen. At the state capitol, Gregory said: 'My intention is to make sure that we, as a state, can step up … and protect our women and our children and our Missourians from the dangerous immigrants. I'm sorry that that scares them but that is not the intent.' He said he was optimistic the bill would pass but that it would take time. If the senate progresses the bill, it will go to the state House of Representatives. In a statement to CNN, Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson wrote, 'I have not heard any enthusiasm from House Republicans about doing any bounty hunter legislation. We are pleased that President Donald Trump is addressing illegal immigration at the federal level, including by signing the Laken Riley Act, which enables states to work with the federal government on immigration.' A similar bill put forward by the Mississippi Legislature was killed in early February. That bill had many of the hallmarks of Missouri Senate Bill 72 including: a $1,000 reward for tips that led to the arrest of undocumented immigrants, the creation of a 'certified bounty hunter' program, and also the threat of life in prison. The American Immigration Council estimated there were nearly 70,000 undocumented immigrants living in Missouri. State Attorney General Andrew Bailey said there were up to about 100,000. They include Chavarria's parents, who Chavarria said currently have work permits but are also in the process of trying to legalize their status. 'I've never seen my parents asking for a handout,' Chavarria said, rejecting some narratives used against migrants. Chavarria also said she wanted criminals off the streets whatever their citizenship, as did the people she knew. 'The right immigrants know that we have to respect a country that we're not citizens of,' she said. 'They're aware of that and that's what they do.' Now with children of her own, she has at times struggled to explain this moment in American politics. They're 8 and 9 years old. 'They tell me that the kids in school will scream 'Trump, Trump, Trump', and I tell them like, well, that's OK,' she said. 'I do try to let them know just to always be proud of who they are,' she explained. 'I don't go very in depth with them because they don't understand,' she added. 'The system is way broken,' she said. 'I wish we could put the effort that we're putting into deporting all these immigrants, I wish that that effort could go into fixing that system, setting it up to where there's an actual pathway to citizenship or residency,' she told CNN. But for this bill and this moment, Khazaeli said he and other lawyers were ready. 'If they push this forward, we're just going to sue them and we're going to win,' he said. 'They're going to start arresting people that they have no right to arrest, they're going to start detaining people that they have no right to detain.' He said he was concerned that even if the 'bounty' part of the bill got dropped, other measures he sees as too extreme could pass. 'This could happen in Missouri, and we're preparing for that.' CNN's Bonney Kapp contributed to this story.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri bill would offer $1,000 to help turn in undocumented immigrants
A bill before the Missouri State Senate would introduce $1,000 rewards for people identifying undocumented immigrants who are then taken into custody. The proposal would make it a state felony for anyone in the US illegally to enter and stay in Missouri. It would create an opportunity for licensed bond agents to become bounty hunters. And it would create a fund not just for the bounty hunters, but anyone who provides information on an undocumented individual that results in their arrest. Senate Bill 72 is still in committee and may never become law. But opponents say it's already spreading fear and changing the lives of both legally residing and undocumented immigrants. 'It's really hateful,' Ashley Chavarria told CNN. Chavarria is the US-born daughter of two Mexicans who came across the border illegally in the late 1980s and have stayed ever since. She said she's already seen Latinos, some undocumented, in Missouri's capital Jefferson City area staying away from English classes and even afraid to collect their children from school since the inauguration of President Donald Trump and the onset of his mass deportation drive. And the new bill could make things worse, added Chavarria, who works at a social service agency for Hispanic communities made up of both citizens and non-citizens. 'It's actually going to put more fear into people and turn people against each other,' she said. The bill's sponsor, freshman state Sen. David Gregory took time to criticize what he said had been misinformation about his plan both when introducing the legislation and in a short interview with CNN. 'I'm hearing things like 'oh, this places a bounty on people.' No, it doesn't' he said. 'Just because we're dispatching bounty hunters after a warrant has been issued is not a bounty. It's actually a reward system through a hotline.' The bill creates a felony of 'trespass by an illegal alien' if an undocumented immigrant enters and stays in the state. The text of the bill talks of setting up a toll-free phone line, email address and online portal where people could — anonymously if they wish — report suspected violators. If an undocumented immigrant 'is arrested and imprisoned…as a result of a report to the information system, the person who made the report shall be eligible to receive a reward of $1,000,' it says. Gregory insists that incentive is a reward — similar to those offered by local and national law enforcement agencies seeking information on crimes — and not a 'bounty.' Merriam-Webster defines 'bounty' as 'a reward, premium, or subsidy especially when offered or given by a government: such as 'a payment for the capture of or assistance in the capture of an outlaw.' In the bill, the punishment for violating the 'trespass by illegal alien' felony is life imprisonment without parole, though it says someone could be released to the custody of the federal government if they were going to be deported within 24 hours. Gregory, who represents parts of St. Louis, told CNN he had heard opposition to the life term and was discussing it with fellow senators. A separate bill he introduced said a court may conditionally release a defendant charged with the state trespassing felony during their initial court appearance if it 'finds that the defendant is seeking asylum and does not pose a danger to the community.' However, if a 'court finds that the defendant is seeking asylum but poses a danger to the community, the defendant shall be denied bail entirely,' and remain in custody throughout the course of their trial, the bill states. The bill would only go into effect if Senate Bill 72 became law. Gregory emphasized people would only be approached and detained after an investigation finds evidence against them and a warrant is issued by a judge. 'These concerns we're hearing that bounty hunters are just going to be kicking in doors, that's illegal. It's illegal now, it's illegal under my bill,' Gregory told CNN. 'When I'm hearing other types of harassment concerns or things like normal, everyday citizens walking up and saying, 'hey, you show me your papers,' — that's illegal. That's illegal today. And it's illegal under my bill,' he said. Those concerns were raised by some of the dozens of people who spoke against the bill during a senate committee hearing. 'This bill would not only tear apart families, schools and congregations and communities, but also pit neighbors against one another,' said Yazmin Bruno-Valdez, who introduced herself as a longtime Missouri resident, community advocate and 'Dreamer' who was brought to the US as a child and is currently allowed to remain. Immigration and civil rights attorney Javad Khazaeli told CNN Gregory's stated intention could be overrun if the bill becomes law. 'When you put bounties on people, you're incentivizing grabbing people,' he said in an interview. 'And when you grab people, bad things happen.' Khazaeli, who's based in St. Louis, spent a decade as a federal government lawyer advising officers in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies about immigration law. He was aware of times when local law enforcement officers would seek training on immigration regulations as they targeted a specific safety problem. But even with training, there would almost inevitably be problems, he said. 'We saw issues where local law enforcement officers were arresting Puerto Ricans because they thought Puerto Rico wasn't part of America. Every time you have any kind of interaction like this, the only possible way for the person on the other end who's being harassed to get out of it is by showing their papers.' 'Now this is exactly — and I'm not trying to be hyperbolic here — but this is exactly what we had in Nazi Germany,' he added. That being said, it could be surprising that the lone voice from a member of the public supporting Gregory's bill in committee came from Rabbi Ze'ev Smason. Smason, a rabbi in St Louis for 25 years, rejected the comparisons to the Holocaust. 'What exactly were they doing in Nazi Germany? They were turning in neighbors if they had a 16th of Jewish blood within them and then they took them in cattle cars and they exterminated them. That's what was done in Nazi Germany. Is that what's being done over here?' he asked. 'I see no reasonable comparison between the two,' he added. He told CNN it was a matter of justice. 'I think people, even though we're not a border state, are very concerned about illegal immigration … because it's an abrogation of the law and, in general, a spirit of lawlessness is something that's destructive to our community and our country,' he said. Mistakes could be made, he conceded, but he trusted in the judicial system. 'I'd like to think that most of the time our police and our courts get it right,' he said. Lawyer Khazaeli said the publicity around Gregory's bill has already had a chilling effect, even on immigrants with legal status. 'I'm seeing people who've been in this country for decades, legally, terrified,' he said, mentioning one woman from Europe who had been a legal permanent resident for 30 years, now looking to become a citizen because she was afraid of what could happen. At the state capitol, Gregory said: 'My intention is to make sure that we, as a state, can step up … and protect our women and our children and our Missourians from the dangerous immigrants. I'm sorry that that scares them but that is not the intent.' He said he was optimistic the bill would pass but that it would take time. If the senate progresses the bill, it will go to the state House of Representatives. In a statement to CNN, Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson wrote, 'I have not heard any enthusiasm from House Republicans about doing any bounty hunter legislation. We are pleased that President Donald Trump is addressing illegal immigration at the federal level, including by signing the Laken Riley Act, which enables states to work with the federal government on immigration.' A similar bill put forward by the Mississippi Legislature was killed in early February. That bill had many of the hallmarks of Missouri Senate Bill 72 including: a $1,000 reward for tips that led to the arrest of undocumented immigrants, the creation of a 'certified bounty hunter' program, and also the threat of life in prison. The American Immigration Council estimated there were nearly 70,000 undocumented immigrants living in Missouri. State Attorney General Andrew Bailey said there were up to about 100,000. They include Chavarria's parents, who Chavarria said currently have work permits but are also in the process of trying to legalize their status. 'I've never seen my parents asking for a handout,' Chavarria said, rejecting some narratives used against migrants. Chavarria also said she wanted criminals off the streets whatever their citizenship, as did the people she knew. 'The right immigrants know that we have to respect a country that we're not citizens of,' she said. 'They're aware of that and that's what they do.' Now with children of her own, she has at times struggled to explain this moment in American politics. They're 8 and 9 years old. 'They tell me that the kids in school will scream 'Trump, Trump, Trump', and I tell them like, well, that's OK,' she said. 'I do try to let them know just to always be proud of who they are,' she explained. 'I don't go very in depth with them because they don't understand,' she added. 'The system is way broken,' she said. 'I wish we could put the effort that we're putting into deporting all these immigrants, I wish that that effort could go into fixing that system, setting it up to where there's an actual pathway to citizenship or residency,' she told CNN. But for this bill and this moment, Khazaeli said he and other lawyers were ready. 'If they push this forward, we're just going to sue them and we're going to win,' he said. 'They're going to start arresting people that they have no right to arrest, they're going to start detaining people that they have no right to detain.' He said he was concerned that even if the 'bounty' part of the bill got dropped, other measures he sees as too extreme could pass. 'This could happen in Missouri, and we're preparing for that.' CNN's Bonney Kapp contributed to this story.
