The new law authorizes the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to identify undocumented immigrants living in the state. Officials may use all reasonable lawful investigative methods to gather that information. They may collect names, addresses, countries of origin, and whether each person is an adult or a child.
Officials may also record criminal histories when applicable. They can document the date, location, and status of deportation proceedings involving people included in the database.
The law directs state agencies to share information about suspected state law violations with local and state authorities. However, it neither requires nor prohibits officials from sharing the database with federal immigration authorities.
Separate provisions in Senate Bill 2114 direct the Department of Public Safety and county detention agencies to pursue cooperation agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the federal 287(g) program. Those agreements allow designated local agencies to assist with certain immigration enforcement duties.
State Senator Angela Hill sponsored the legislation. She said states have both the authority and responsibility to support federal immigration enforcement. Hill argued that identifying undocumented immigrants would help officials better understand the scope of illegal immigration in Mississippi.
Hill also described the measure as a practical approach. She said lawmakers need accurate information before addressing challenges linked to illegal immigration. She added that crimes such as human trafficking and drug trafficking can be associated with illegal immigration.
The law allows officials to maintain the Immigrant Registry for the next two years. Immigration status can change over time. As a result, the database could include people who overstay visas or later gain and lose lawful status.
Immigration advocacy organizations questioned whether officials could keep the database accurate. They said immigration status often changes. They also warned that updating personal information could become difficult as people move into or out of Mississippi.
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, said officials need a reliable system for verifying immigration status. She added that the law could increase the likelihood that federal authorities identify undocumented immigrants.
According to 2023 Census Bureau data cited by the American Immigration Council, Mississippi has fewer than 28,000 undocumented immigrants. That figure represents less than one percent of the state’s population.
Victoria Francis of the American Immigration Council said the measure could shift law enforcement resources away from broader public safety responsibilities. She also warned that expanded immigration investigations could affect communities where undocumented immigrants contribute to the economy.
Lydia Grizzell of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi also expressed concern about the measure. She said it could weaken trust between residents and law enforcement officers. She warned that fewer people might contact police when they need assistance.
Mississippi enacted the law as states continue passing immigration-related legislation. State lawmakers have approved more than 100 immigration laws across the country this year.
Several Republican-led states have expanded cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Their policies require sheriff’s offices to work with ICE, strengthen benefit eligibility checks, and compare voter rolls with federal immigration databases.
Mississippi’s approach resembles a 2021 executive order issued in Florida. That order directed state law enforcement to identify undocumented immigrants transported into Florida during the border crisis.
Meanwhile, several Democratic-led states have limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Those policies restrict ICE agreements, limit officers from wearing masks during enforcement actions, and prohibit immigration arrests at schools, hospitals, and other sensitive locations without judicial warrants.
At the federal level, the current administration has increased enforcement of a longstanding requirement requiring noncitizens to register with the U.S. government.
The Immigrant Registry will become part of Mississippi’s broader immigration enforcement strategy as the law takes effect. Officials will implement its provisions while supporters and critics continue monitoring its impact during the next two years.
