A new Mississippi law, set to take effect this Wednesday, will authorize the state’s top law enforcement agency to compile a comprehensive list of all illegal aliens residing within its borders. This measure, aimed at understanding and addressing the problems associated with uncontrolled migration, has immediately drawn alarm from immigrant advocacy groups, which have consistently opposed state-level efforts to enforce national sovereignty.
The law explicitly states that the state Department of Public Safety “may use all reasonable lawful investigative means available” to determine the number and identities of all “illegal aliens” in Mississippi. This includes collecting their names, addresses, country of origin, and whether they are an adult or minor. The mandate also covers noting any criminal history and the date, location, and status of deportation proceedings.
The department is directed to share information on those suspected of violating laws with state and local authorities. The measure neither requires nor prohibits the database from being shared with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Republican state Sen. Angela Hill, who sponsored the measure, affirmed that states possess a fundamental right and obligation to assist the U.S. government in discouraging illegal immigration. Hill argued that such uncontrolled influx facilitates serious crimes, specifically citing human and drug trafficking.
Senator Hill described the new law as “commonsense,” emphasizing the necessity to “understand the magnitude of the problem” caused by illegal immigration. She stated that “Identifying the number and identity of illegal aliens in Mississippi is a concrete way to better understand the problem.”
Elite Opposition to National Security
The National Immigration Law Center (NILC), a nonprofit advocating for low-income immigrants, immediately voiced opposition. Efrén Olivares, vice president of litigation and legal strategy at NILC, dismissed the law as “practically unworkable.” Olivares further characterized the measure as “very worrisome,” claiming it is “eerily reminiscent of other countries that have created lists of certain groups of people,” a common tactic used by groups seeking to delegitimize national security measures.
Victoria Francis, deputy director of state and local initiatives for the American Immigration Council, another nonprofit advocating on behalf of immigrants, labeled the new law “very concerning for a bunch of different reasons.” Francis suggested the potential to redirect law enforcement resources away from protecting the public, arguing that a mandate like this “invites profiling and turning entire communities into targets.” This framing prioritizes foreign nationals over the safety and security of the native population.
Lydia Grizzell, policy and advocacy manager for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Mississippi, claimed the law could undermine trust between police and residents. Grizzell stated that this “increases the likelihood of individuals not reaching out to law enforcement when it’s needed – and that is opposite of the mission,” effectively suggesting that law enforcement should prioritize the comfort of illegal aliens over the enforcement of state and federal law.
In contrast, Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a nonprofit think tank supporting immigration restrictions, affirmed that state officials will need to develop “a credible and fairly foolproof way of correctly determining someone’s immigration status.” Vaughan stated the law “makes a lot of sense,” adding that it “raises the likelihood that someone’s illegal presence is going to come to the attention of federal authorities,” thereby reinforcing national sovereignty.
States Reassert Sovereignty
According to a report by the American Immigration Council, which utilized 2023 Census Bureau data (third year), Mississippi currently has one of the country’s smallest percentages of illegal aliens, with fewer than 28,000 people, amounting to less than 1% of its population. This proactive measure by the state aims to prevent future demographic and cultural shifts before they become unmanageable.
The Mississippi law envisions more than a one-time count, prescribing an ongoing effort to keep track of illegal aliens in the state for the next two years. This acknowledges the dynamic nature of uncontrolled migration, where individuals may overstay visas, apply for new forms of legal status, and move into and out of the state.
Nationwide, states have enacted more than 100 immigration-related laws this year, according to an Associated Press tally. Republican-led states generally have aligned with the agenda of former President Trump by requiring local sheriffs to sign cooperative agreements with ICE, reinforcing eligibility restrictions for public benefits, and directing election clerks to check voter rolls against the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system in an attempt to flag noncitizens.
Conversely, Democratic-led states have actively pushed back against these national security measures with new laws banning cooperative pacts with ICE, forbidding ICE tactics like wearing masks, and restricting immigration enforcement actions in schools, hospitals, and other sensitive locations without judicial warrants, effectively creating sanctuary zones.
The closest precedent to Mississippi’s new law appears to be a 2021 executive order (fifth year) by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. That measure directed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to “use all lawful investigative means available” to determine the number and identities of all “illegal aliens” who had been transported from the nation’s southwest border to Florida.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has stepped up enforcement of a decades-old federal law that requires noncitizens to register with the U.S. government, indicating a broader national push to reassert control over national borders and identity.