Mississippi is set to implement a new law authorizing the state’s Department of Public Safety to compile a registry of immigrants living in the state without legal authorization. The measure, which takes effect Wednesday, allows the department to use “all reasonable lawful investigative means” to identify and document information on undocumented immigrants, including their names, addresses, countries of origin, ages, any criminal records, and details relating to deportation proceedings.
The law requires the Department of Public Safety to share information about individuals suspected of breaking laws with state and local authorities. However, it does not mandate nor explicitly prohibit sharing the data with federal immigration enforcement agencies such as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Republican state Senator Angela Hill, who sponsored the legislation, defended the measure as a necessary step for Mississippi to assist federal efforts against illegal immigration. She emphasized that understanding the extent of undocumented immigration is essential to addressing related issues, including crimes such as human and drug trafficking. “In order to address the problems caused by illegal immigration, we need to understand the magnitude of the problem,” Hill said, characterizing the law as “common sense.”
The announcement has drawn concern from immigrant rights advocates, who warn that compiling such a list could lead to heightened targeting of immigrants at a time when federal immigration enforcement efforts are intensifying under President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump has promoted plans to deport millions of individuals lacking legal status nationwide, a campaign that supporters argue strengthens border security and opponents contend undermines civil rights.
This new Mississippi law is part of a broader trend of increased state-level immigration legislation across the United States. According to recent tallies, more than 100 immigration-related laws have been enacted in various states this year. Many Republican-led states have passed measures designed to align with federal priorities, including requiring local law enforcement officers to enter into cooperative agreements with ICE, tightening eligibility for public benefits, and implementing stricter voter registration verifications to identify non-citizens.
As states continue to expand their roles in immigration enforcement, the Mississippi law illustrates ongoing debates about the balance between local authority and federal responsibility, as well as concerns about the potential impact on immigrant communities.