June 28, 2026

Mississippi Law to Create Registry of Undocumented Immigrants Takes Effect

The Mississippi law, effective Wednesday, allows the Department of Public Safety to compile a list of undocumented immigrants, including their personal details and criminal history, and mandates tracking for two years.
Advocates warn the law could facilitate targeting and deportation efforts, echoing federal immigration policies, and damage trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities.
The law permits sharing information with state and local authorities but does not explicitly require sharing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite provisions for cooperation agreements.
Critics argue the law could lead to profiling and divert law enforcement resources away from public safety to focus on undocumented individuals.