Social media posts regarding bounties for reporting immigrants who lack permanent legal status in the U.S. contain misinformation, according to a review by Roy Howard Community Journalism Center researchers.
These posts were brought to the center’s attention by a reader from Forrest County.
One such post says that U.S. Immigrations and Custom Enforcement, better known as ICE, is “offering $750 per illegal immigrant that you turn in through their tip form.” Similar posts have the bounty award amount set at $1,000.
An ICE spokesperson told news agency Reuters these claims are false and that bounty awards are not part of civil immigration enforcement objectives.
However, legislators in two states — Mississippi and Missouri — have proposed legislation that would offer such financial incentives.
In Mississippi, Rep. Justin Keen, a Republican from DeSoto County, introduced House Bill 1484, which would, among other features, create the “Mississippi Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program.” The program would allow bail bond or surety recovery agents to serve as bounty hunters and collect $1,000 “if an illegal alien is arrested and imprisoned” after their report.
The bill remains active in the Mississippi House of Representatives and is currently being debated in the Judiciary B and State Affairs committees. Committees have a deadline of Feb. 4 to report, or present, the bill to the full chamber for consideration. If it passes the lower chamber, it will proceed to the state Senate for further consideration.
If legislators in both houses pass the bill and Gov. Tate Reeves signs it, it will take effect on July 1.
Legal experts — and some lawmakers — told the Mississippi Free Press that they have “deep skepticism” about Keen’s bill. Rep. Jansen Owen, a Republican from Poplarville, serves as vice chair of the Judiciary B Committee. He told MFP reporters that he was concerned “about the constitutionality of some of those provisions,” adding that he believes “it’s very unlikely that (the bill will) come out of committee.”
Immigration attorney Larissa David of Flowood said the bill “doesn’t make sense with the existing laws for immigration.” She said the bill is “just not feasible.”
Keen’s bill is a “copycat version” of the Missouri bill, according to the MFP. That bill, introduced in the state Senate by Republican Sen. David Gregory, is also still being debated in committee. According to FOX4KC, Missouri Republican House Speaker Jon Patterson is skeptical of the bill and recently “cast doubt” on its fate.
Check your sources
To combat disinformation and misinformation, remember to follow our media literacy tips and tricks. The source of the presented information — or lack thereof — is always important. Keep in mind that social media sites are platforms, not sources, and remember to think about these items:
— Who actually posted the information?
— Is this an organization, like a news outlet, or a person you should trust?
Submit your “What is True?” request here.
Graduate assistants Matt Martin and Colbey Penton contributed reporting.
