A bounty hunter in Sunnyside, Washington, has sparked widespread outrage after claiming during a city council meeting that he and others like him will not need to follow laws when hunting down undocumented immigrants. The man, whose identity remains unclear, stated that due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offering bounties of $1,000 to $1,500 per “illegal,” bounty hunters will essentially operate outside legal constraints.
The video of his remarks, which has since gone viral, shows the bounty hunter confidently asserting, “We don’t really need to follow too many of the laws,” while addressing the council. He also claimed that warrants would not be necessary for his operations, drawing immediate criticism and concern from both local residents and online commentators.
The bounty hunter’s comments have ignited a firestorm of criticism, with many pointing out the dangerous implications of such a policy. While the original TikTok itself hasn’t done massive numbers, users over on Reddit found the clip and it’s since drawn huge criticism. One user noted, “Trust them when they tell you what they are going to do,” while others expressed fears about the potential for racial profiling and violence.
Critics highlighted the likelihood of innocent people being targeted, particularly those who are legal immigrants or U.S. citizens. One commenter shared a chilling example: “In the recent ICE raid in Newark, NJ, they took a U.S. military vet who was born in Puerto Rico. Because he’s a Brown person and speaks Spanish, they took him.”
The bounty hunter’s remarks also raised alarms about the broader implications of deputizing individuals to enforce immigration laws. “When you deputize people like this fucking clown… what happens when U.S. citizens are imprisoned because of this?” asked another Reddit user.
Many drew parallels to darker chapters in history, with one user warning, “People will be saying ‘you’re being melodramatic, stop exaggerating’ the whole way down into the concentration camps.” Others pointed to recent incidents where Native Americans, such as the Navajo, have been mistakenly targeted by immigration enforcement.
The bounty hunter’s claim that “every human is worth a dollar amount” further fueled concerns about the dehumanization of immigrants. “Buckle up, these next few years are going to get very very fuckin dark,” one commenter predicted.
Legal experts and commentators have questioned the legitimacy of the bounty hunter’s claims. While ICE has used bounty systems in the past, the idea that private individuals can operate without warrants or legal oversight has been widely disputed. “I’m not sure it works that way,” one Reddit user noted, adding that the lack of accountability could lead to dangerous outcomes.
The bounty hunter’s assertion that he “enjoys doing” this work also drew sharp criticism. “He was trying to blackmail them even. ‘Give me double to not do it, because I love doing it,'” one observer remarked.
The incident underscores the deepening divide in the U.S. over immigration policy and enforcement. While some support stricter measures, others fear the erosion of civil liberties and the potential for abuse. As one commenter put it, “It’s not a matter of what is ‘Right and Wrong’ anymore. It’s a matter of what you believe right and wrong is.”
The bounty hunter’s speech has left many wondering how far such policies will go and what the consequences will be for communities already on edge.
