Key facts
- Mississippi's new law allows the state Department of Public Safety to create a list of undocumented immigrants.
- The list will include names, addresses, countries of origin, and criminal history.
- Information gathered may be shared with state and local authorities.
- The law aims to help understand the scale of illegal immigration in the state.
- Immigrant advocates fear the law could lead to profiling and targeting of immigrant communities.
A new Mississippi law, effective Wednesday, will authorize the state's Department of Public Safety to compile a list of immigrants residing in the state without legal status. The law directs the agency to collect names, addresses, countries of origin, and details on criminal history and deportation proceedings, sharing information with state and local authorities. The measure does not mandate or prohibit sharing data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
State Sen. Angela Hill, who sponsored the legislation, stated that understanding the number and identity of undocumented immigrants is crucial for addressing issues like human and drug trafficking. She views the law as a commonsense measure to grasp the magnitude of illegal immigration.
Nationwide, states have enacted over 100 immigration-related laws this year. Republican-led states have generally pursued measures aligning with President Donald Trump's agenda, such as requiring sheriff cooperation with ICE and reinforcing benefit eligibility restrictions. Conversely, Democratic-led states have enacted laws to ban cooperation pacts with ICE and restrict enforcement in sensitive locations.
A 2021 executive order by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is noted as a similar measure, directing the state's law enforcement to identify undocumented immigrants transported from the border. The Mississippi law, however, envisions an ongoing effort to track individuals over two years, which some experts deem practically unworkable due to the fluid nature of immigration status.
Immigrant advocates express alarm, fearing the law could facilitate targeting and become a precursor to mass deportations. They argue it could redirect law enforcement resources from public safety to immigration enforcement, potentially leading to profiling and turning communities into targets. The ACLU of Mississippi suggests the law could erode trust between residents and police, discouraging people from reporting crimes.