Mississippi Authorizes 2-Year Registry of Undocumented Immigrants, Covering Fewer Than 28,000 Residents
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 29
Mississippi Authorizes 2-Year Registry of Undocumented Immigrants, Covering Fewer Than 28,000 Residents
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 29
Summary
Wednesday marks the start of a Mississippi law letting the Department of Public Safety build a statewide list of undocumented immigrants, including names, addresses, country of origin, age category and deportation-case details.
SB 2114 says the agency may use all lawful investigative means to identify people living in the state illegally and share suspected law violations with state and local authorities; it also pushes cooperation agreements with ICE under 287(g).
Angela Hill, the Republican sponsor, said the registry will help measure illegal immigration and support enforcement, while restriction advocates said it could increase the odds that cases reach federal authorities.
Immigrant and civil-liberties groups called the system unworkable and prone to profiling, warning it could erode trust in police as immigration status changes over time and law enforcement resources shift away from other public-safety work.
Mississippi has fewer than 28,000 undocumented immigrants—under 1% of its population—but the law joins more than 100 state immigration measures passed this year as Republican-led states align with Trump's crackdown.
With massive new federal funding for enforcement, is Mississippi's separate immigrant list a redundant effort or a necessary tool?
As Mississippi creates an immigrant database, what are the hidden economic costs and consequences for the state's industries?
How can a state legally track residents without undermining trust in law enforcement and inviting profiling claims?
Tracking Undocumented Immigrants: Mississippi’s 2026 Registry Law and Its Far-Reaching Consequences
Overview
Mississippi's new immigrant registry law, effective in late June 2026, gives the Department of Public Safety the power to create and maintain a detailed list of all undocumented immigrants in the state for two years. The law requires collecting personal information such as names, addresses, country of origin, age, criminal history, and deportation status to build comprehensive profiles. This data can be shared with state and local authorities, but rules for sharing with federal agencies remain unclear. The law is part of a broader push for stricter immigration enforcement and has sparked concerns about privacy, discrimination, and legal challenges.