Wrap: The federal government is allowing 18 Missouri troopers to do their work for them ... catch illegal immigrants and turn them over.

A Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson says troopers have caught 474 people in the country illegally since 2007.

That was the year former Gov. Matt Blunt ordered troopers to do an immigration check on everyone they arrested.

The order has since become state law.

After making an arrest and finding a person is here illegally, troopers refer the case to the feds.

The Eastern Missouri ACLU says the program is dangerous ... saying it takes local law enforcement away from the job it's already supposed to be doing.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Wrap: An elite group of Missouri troopers has turned over nearly 500 illegal immigrants to the feds over the past two years.

Eastern Missouri ACLU Program Director John Chasnoff says he fears troopers will engage in racial profiling.

Hotz says only after an arrest does the group of 18 troopers check for immigration status.

At that point, the trooper turns over the illegal immigrant to the feds.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.