MISSISSIPPI — A new Mississippi law authorizes the state Department of Public Safety to compile a list of immigrants illegally living in the state. The law is set to take effect on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

The measure states the department may use all reasonable lawful investigative means available to determine the number and identities of all individuals classified as illegal aliens in Mississippi. The data collection includes names, addresses, country of origin, and whether the individual is an adult or minor. It also includes 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. The law prescribes an ongoing effort to keep track of immigrants illegally in the state for the next two years.

Republican state Sen. Angela Hill sponsored the measure. Hill said states have a right and obligation to assist the U.S. government in discouraging illegal immigration. Hill also said illegal immigration facilitates 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. Identifying the number and identity of illegal aliens in Mississippi is a concrete way to better understand the problem," Hill said.

Efrén Olivares, vice president of litigation and legal strategy at the National Immigration Law Center, commented on the practicalities of tracking immigration status. "You can be undocumented today, and then have status tomorrow, and then lose it again next month, and then regain it three months from now," Olivares said. He also stated, "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."

Lydia Grizzell, policy and advocacy manager for the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, said, "That increases the likelihood of individuals not reaching out to law enforcement when it's needed – and that is opposite of the mission."

According to a report by the American Immigration Council using 2023 Census Bureau data, fewer than 28,000 immigrants illegally reside in Mississippi. This number amounts to less than 1% of the state's population.