Missouri Treasurer Malek draws line on immigration – Missourinet

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek is drawing a hardline stance on immigration in his election campaign. The Republican recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona but drew scrutiny for going down there in his official capacity as state treasurer.

He told Missourinet why Missourians should care about the situation at the southern border.

“It is not only a personal issue, for me it is also an issue as a state treasurer because all the burden that we are going to face from these illegal immigrants is going to impact our taxpayer’s money,” he said. “We have more than 70,000 illegals right now in Missouri and that’s going to be a burden on our education system, on our healthcare system.”

Malek, an immigrant who became a U.S. citizen, said that America is a country of rules and regulations.

“It is a slap on the face of people like me who have done it the right way. When you allow people to enter the border illegally into the country and then just give them work cards and then fly them to the destinations, give them an apartment to live, and in five years or less than that time, they become citizens after obtaining their green card through asylum process,” he explained.

Regarding his bid for election, he argued that what is happening at the southern border goes against one of his campaign priorities, which he calls “Promise of America.”

“That you can come to this country the legal way, the right way, and if you are determined, you work hard, you get an education, you can achieve anything,” he said. “That American dream is still alive and well.”

According to Malek, Missouri is home to more than 70,000 illegal immigrants. Malek was born in India before immigrating to the U.S. in August of 2001.

He was appointed as Missouri treasurer by Gov. Mike Parson in December of 2022.

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