PRESS RELEASE
Treasurer Vivek Malek Announces Initiative to Target Root Unlawful Migration Practices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tianna Brooks, 573-751-5390
JEFFERSON CITY, MO — Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek was joined by more than a dozen members of the Missouri General Assembly in Saint Louis this week to announce a legislative initiative aimed at closing gaps in immigration enforcement and financial oversight related to foreign remittances — transactions in which money is sent from an individual in one country to recipients in another.
The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 1124 and House Bill 2412, introduces commonsense measures to ensure licensed money services businesses operating in Missouri verify lawful immigration status before initiating foreign remittance transfers.
Under the proposal, businesses will be required to:
“This is not radical. This is not extreme. This is basic financial accountability,” said Treasurer Malek. “As Missouri’s chief financial officer, my job is to protect the integrity of our financial systems. Licensed institutions must operate responsibly and lawfully — especially when billions of dollars are involved.”
The Treasurer emphasized that the legislation does not target individuals, criminalize lawful immigrants, or interfere with legitimate transactions. Instead, it focuses on accountability for businesses and fairness for Missouri families and lawful immigrants.
According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, more than $200 billion leaves the United States annually through remittances, with Mexico alone receiving over $52 billion. “Remittances are not just private family transactions — they are a powerful economic incentive tied directly to illegal immigration,” Treasurer Malek noted. “States cannot ignore that reality.”
The legislation is sponsored by Senator Nick Schroer (District 02) and Representative Ben Keathley (District 101). “These are not easy conversations, but they are necessary ones,” said Treasurer Malek. “Supporting legal immigration and opposing illegal immigration are not contradictory positions — they are inseparable.”
Treasurer Malek concluded: “Missouri is saying: If you want to operate here, follow the rules. If you want access to the U.S. economy, respect its laws. And if the federal government cannot enforce every facet of immigration, states will not sit idle while incentives for illegal entry remain untouched.”
