Mississippi Law Mandates Immigrant Database

Set to take effect in February 2023, law authorizes Mississippi’s Department of Public Safety to use “all reasonable lawful investigative means” to identify every person deemed an “illegal alien,” recording names, addresses, origin, age, criminal history and deportation status, and sharing data with state and local authorities. It does not require nor forbid ICE sharing and mandates a two-year count. Sponsored by Sen. Angela Hill.

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Mississippi’s measure joins 100 immigration-related statutes passed in 2023, most in Republican-led states that have embraced Donald Trump’s push for ICE cooperation and tighter benefit rules. A similar list was ordered in 2021 by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Democratic states have moved to limit such cooperation.

A new law could create a list of immigrants illegally living in Mississippi. Advocates are alarmed

Sen. Angela Hill said states have a “right and obligation to assist U.S. government in discouraging illegal immigration,” calling the database “commonsense” and a concrete way to gauge the problem’s size. Law authorizes data collection and sharing with state/local officials while leaving ICE sharing optional. Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies called the measure sensible and said it will draw federal attention.

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National Immigration Law Center’s Efrén Olivares warned the system is “practically unworkable,” noting status changes and comparing the list to practices abroad. Victoria Francis of American Immigration Council called the mandate “very concerning,” citing profiling, resource diversion, and mistrust. ACLU of Mississippi manager Lydia Grizzell said the law could deter residents from seeking police help, undermining safety.

A new law could create a list of immigrants illegally living in Mississippi. Advocates are alarmed

The statute leaves it unclear whether the database must be shared with ICE, creating an open-ended provision. Officials have offered no concrete method for verifying fluctuating immigration status, and Florida’s similar 2021 order has yielded no results.

A new law could create a list of immigrants illegally living in Mississippi. Advocates are alarmed

• “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.” — Sen. Angela Hill

A new law could create a list of immigrants illegally living in Mississippi. Advocates are alarmed

• “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,” — Efrén Olivares, National Immigration Law Center

A new law could create a list of immigrants illegally living in Mississippi. Advocates are alarmed

• “A mandate like this invites profiling and turning entire communities into targets,” — Victoria Francis, American Immigration Council

A new law could create a list of immigrants illegally living in Mississippi. Advocates are alarmed

• “That increases the likelihood of individuals not reaching out to law enforcement when it’s needed – and that is opposite of the mission,” — Lydia Grizzell, ACLU of Mississippi

A new law could create a list of immigrants illegally living in Mississippi. Advocates are alarmed

The database will operate for two years, during which Mississippi must develop a verification system. Immigrant-rights groups have signaled intent to pursue legal challenges, while other states watch the measure as a potential template for future immigration policy.

A new law could create a list of immigrants illegally living in Mississippi. Advocates are alarmed