The new Fugitive Slave Law [View all]

[erronis]

https://digbysblog.net/2024/12/08/everything-old-is-new-again-3/

I suppose it was only a matter of time before this entered the conversation:

New plans are being discussed in Jefferson City [Mo.] this week, including a proposed bounty hunter program for illegal immigrants. The proposed bill would pay people to catch those they believe to be in the United States illegally.

Senate Bill 72 was pre-filed to the Missouri legislature. It is sponsored by House Representative David Gregory. Gregory wants to pay Missourians $1000 to find and detain illegal immigrants in the state.

The first part of the bill reads that someone in Missouri illegally is “prohibited from voting in any election, receiving any permit or license to drive, receive any public benefit, and becoming a legal resident of this state.”

It’s important to note that it is already illegal to vote if you are not a citizen.

It also states the Department of Public Safety should develop an information system for people to report violations.

Civil rights attorneys are alarmed of course. But honestly, they’re already going so far with this already that I can’t see why they wouldn’t propose this and if the courts are going along with everything else they’re doing it’s hard to imagine they wouldn’t see this as perfectly reasonable. After all, they’re talking about ending birthright citizenship. Why would a little law that helped precipitate the civil war be a problem?

Meyerson suggested at the time that there should be civil disobedience to protect undocumented immigrants, even sit-ins at ICE offices. I haven’t heard word of anything like that. I suppose everyone’s waiting to see what actually happens.

Trump said this morning that all undocumented people, not just criminals, have to be deported. And he also said that their American children will have to go with them because he “doesn’t want to break up families.” He did seem to make some exception for DREAMers, saying that he’ll talk to the Democrats about that. (I’m sure that just about putting together some proposal with a heinous poison pill the Dems can’t vote for so they can blame them for refusing to help the DREAMers.)

He once again declared that there will be a moment when a “beautiful young woman is being dragged out crying” and everyone will be upset but “we have to do it.” I think he’s looking forward to it.