Tilley: Create New Jobs By Deporting Illegals Who Molest Minors

Along with continuing to advance our legislative package to create new jobs in Missouri, this week the Missouri House took up a provision to protect Missouri families. Some of the worst crimes we deal with in Missouri are sex offenses like rape, especially when they involve small children.

Currently, sex offenders are required to register with their local communities when they are released from jail. This is because the crimes they commit are so harmful to young children, and children are often impressionable and unable to protect themselves, or even realize which adults are trying to help, or harm them.

Additionally, around 1 in 5 sex offenders will repeat their crime after they are released [Source: http://www.mosac.mo.gov/file/SOrecidivism.pdf]. Since sex offenders are likely to re-commit their crimes, and their victims are often the weakest and most impressionable in our society, we require them to register with their communities – so people can avoid them if they so choose.

The bill we passed through this week [HB731] adds the requirement that those convicted of sex crimes which require registration also provide information about their immigration status. Also, the Highway Patrol would be required to cross-check this registration, and if the offender was not a citizen, report them for deportation.

Strangely, the Highway patrol does not currently have the authority to look directly into sex offenders’ citizenship or immigration status. Our bill would give them that authority.

Fortunately, this bill would cost no extra money, and would provide for an easy solution to a tough problem. It’s hard enough to deal with sex offenders in communities who are United States citizens. If they are illegal immigrants, the solution is easy, deport them.

It’s bad enough that illegal immigrants are here taking jobs from hard-working Missourians, especially with unemployment hovering around 10 percent.

When they are convicted of horrible crimes, the State should connect the dots surrounding their citizenship and suggest that the federal government deport them.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve here in the House of Representatives. As always, I welcome your comments. You may reach me at 573-751-1488, send your e-mails to steven{dot}tilley{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov or write to me at the Missouri House of Representatives, State Capitol, Room 308, Jefferson City, MO 65101.