Mississippi Proposes Cash Rewards of Up to $1,000 for Hunting Undocumented Immigrants

Mississippi Proposes Cash Rewards of Up to $1,000 for Hunting Undocumented Immigrants

A bill introduced in the Mississippi legislature seeks to enlist bounty hunters in the deportation of undocumented immigrants, offering financial rewards for each person expelled from the country. House Bill 1484, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Justin Keen and backed by DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton, proposes the creation of the “Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program.” The initiative, if passed, would register bounty hunters to assist in immigration enforcement, promising them a $1,000 reward for each deportation they help facilitate. 

Behind the Possible $1,000 Payout Mississippi Proposes

Keen defended the measure as a necessary step in protecting communities, invoking the murder of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student, allegedly at the hands of an undocumented immigrant. “We’ve seen firsthand the danger posed by bad actors and violent criminals who enter this country illegally, like the innocent life of Laken Riley,” Keen said in a statement as reported by The Hill. 

The bill, which has yet to become law, lays out a system where certified bounty hunters —registered through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety — would work alongside local law enforcement to track and detain undocumented immigrants. The program would be funded through appropriations from the state legislature, with oversight from the state treasurer. The proposed legislation does not specify how bounty hunters would verify immigration status, nor does it outline due process protections for those detained under the program. 

If Passed, House Bill 1484 May Create More Fear for Immigrants

The bill has already drawn scrutiny from immigration advocates and legal experts who question its constitutionality and its potential to encourage racial profiling. Critics warn that deputizing bounty hunters to enforce immigration law could lead to wrongful detentions and abuses. Supporters, however, argue that the measure is “necessary” in the absence of federal action, insisting that Mississippi must take matters into its own hands to curb illegal immigration. 

House Bill 1484 remains in committee, with its fate uncertain. If passed, Mississippi would become the first state to create a bounty system for deportations, further intensifying the national debate over immigration enforcement. 

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