Mississippi is set to begin enforcing a new law Wednesday authorizing officials to compile detailed information on illegal aliens, expanding the state’s ability to identify and document individuals living without legal immigration status.
The measure directs the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to identify and track undocumented residents over a two-year period.
Under the law, the Department of Public Safety may use “all reasonable lawful investigative means available” to determine the number and identities of people classified as illegal aliens in Mississippi.
Information collected may include names, home addresses, countries of origin, whether an individual is an adult or minor, criminal history, and details related to deportation proceedings.
The legislation also directs the department to share information regarding individuals suspected of violating laws with state and local authorities.
However, the measure neither requires nor prohibits the sharing of the database with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), leaving questions about how the information could ultimately be used.
Republican State Sen. Angela Hill, one of the bill’s sponsors, said the measure is intended to help state officials better understand the extent of illegal immigration.
“In order to address the problems caused by illegal immigration, we need to understand the magnitude of the problem.
Identifying the number and identity of illegal aliens in Mississippi is a concrete way to better understand the problem,” Hill said, according to ABC News.
The law takes effect as states continue adopting immigration-related measures, with supporters arguing it will improve enforcement efforts while opponents warn it could broaden government collection of personal information.
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, said state officials will need “a credible and fairly foolproof way of correctly determining someone’s immigration status,” but said the law “makes a lot of sense” and could help bring unlawful immigration status to the attention of federal authorities, according to BizPac Review.
Opponents contend the law could create significant practical and legal challenges.
Efrén Olivares, vice president of litigation and legal strategy at the National Immigration Law Center, questioned how officials would maintain accurate records as immigration statuses change over time.
“It’s practically unworkable, but it’s also very worrisome, because it’s eerily reminiscent of other countries that have created lists of certain groups of people,” he said.
Advocacy organizations have also raised concerns about potential profiling and the impact on immigrant communities.
Victoria Francis of the American Immigration Council said, “A mandate like this invites profiling and turning entire communities into targets.”
Lydia Grizzell of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi warned the law could discourage residents from contacting law enforcement when assistance is needed.
According to the American Immigration Council, Mississippi has one of the nation’s lowest percentages of illegal aliens, with fewer than 28,000 people estimated to be living in the state without legal status, based on 2023 Census Bureau data.
Even so, the measure arrives amid a broader national debate over immigration enforcement and state involvement in federal immigration matters.
The Mississippi law takes effect as states across the country continue advancing immigration-related legislation.
Supporters view the measure as an effort to strengthen enforcement and improve public safety, while critics argue it could expand government tracking of vulnerable populations.
How the database is maintained and whether information is ultimately shared with federal immigration authorities remain key questions as implementation begins.
