A new law in Mississippi, set to take effect on June 29, 2026, will enable the state's Department of Public Safety to compile a list of undocumented immigrants residing in the state. The law permits the department to utilize various investigative means to ascertain the identities and numbers of illegal immigrants, including collecting personal information such as names, addresses, and countries of origin. It also allows for the documentation of any criminal history and deportation proceedings.
The law does not explicitly require sharing this information with federal immigration authorities, although it encourages cooperation agreements with ICE. State Senator Angela Hill, a Republican who sponsored the bill, stated that it is the state's responsibility to assist in addressing illegal immigration, which she claims is linked to crimes such as human and drug trafficking. Hill emphasized the importance of understanding the extent of illegal immigration in Mississippi.
Immigrant advocates have expressed concerns that the law may complicate matters for individuals who overstay their visas or seek new legal statuses. Efrén Olivares, vice president of litigation at the National Immigration Law Center, noted that the law could create challenges in tracking individuals' status changes. Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, argued that the law could enhance the likelihood of illegal immigrants being identified by federal authorities.
Mississippi has a relatively low number of undocumented immigrants, with fewer than 28,000 individuals, representing less than 1% of the state's population, according to the American Immigration Council. Critics, including representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, have warned that the law could undermine trust between law enforcement and communities, potentially leading to profiling and diverting resources away from public safety.
This law is part of a broader trend, with over 100 immigration-related laws enacted in various states this year. Similar measures have been observed in other Republican-led states, while some Democratic-led states have sought to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.