Mississippi Creates Registry of Undocumented Immigrants

Mississippi has enacted a sweeping new law authorizing the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) to compile a comprehensive registry of all immigrants living illegally in the state, sparking alarm among civil rights advocates who warn of potential profiling and constitutional challenges. The law, Senate Bill 2114, takes effect on July 1, 2026, and is part of a broader wave of immigration enforcement measures sweeping Republican-led states this year.

What the Law Does

SB 2114 directs the Mississippi DPS to “use all reasonable lawful investigative means available” to determine the number and identities of all “illegal aliens” residing in the state, according to the bill text. The registry will collect names, addresses, country of origin, whether the individual is an adult or minor, criminal history, and the date, location, and status of deportation proceedings.

The department is authorized to share information with state and local law enforcement agencies. The law neither requires nor prohibits sharing the database with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), leaving that decision to the department’s discretion.

Beyond the registry, the law criminalizes illegal entry into Mississippi as a felony punishable by at least two years in prison. Undocumented immigrants convicted of a crime of violence or sex offense face a minimum of five years. The measure also requires every county law enforcement agency operating a detention facility to attempt to sign a 287(g) agreement with ICE by October 1, 2026, with quarterly compliance reports to DPS.

A Growing National Trend

Mississippi’s law arrives amid an unprecedented surge in state-level immigration legislation. According to AP News, states have enacted more than 100 immigration-related laws in 2026 alone. Republican-led states have generally aligned with President Donald Trump’s enforcement agenda, while Democratic-led states have pushed back with protective measures.

The closest precedent to Mississippi’s registry is a 2021 executive order by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which directed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to identify “illegal aliens” transported to the state. The Florida agency has not disclosed the results of that order.

Mississippi’s law is part of a broader package of immigration enforcement bills passed in the 2026 legislative session, including HB 538 (anti-sanctuary policy), SB 2322 (driver’s license restrictions), and SB 2588 (the SHIELD Act for election verification), as reported by the Magnolia Tribune.

Supporters: A Commonsense Measure

Republican state Sen. Angela Hill, the bill’s primary sponsor, defended the law as a necessary step to understand the scope of illegal immigration in Mississippi.

“In order to address the problems caused by illegal immigration, we need to understand the magnitude of the problem,” Hill told the Associated Press. “Identifying the number and identity of illegal aliens in Mississippi is a concrete way to better understand the problem.”

Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a restrictionist think tank, said the law “makes a lot of sense” and “raises the likelihood that someone’s illegal presence is going to come to the attention of federal authorities.”

Critics: Unworkable and Dangerous

Advocacy groups have sharply criticized the law, warning it could lead to racial profiling and undermine trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.

Efrén Olivares, vice president of litigation and legal strategy at the National Immigration Law Center, called the law “practically unworkable” and “eerily reminiscent of other countries that have created lists of certain groups of people.”

Victoria Francis, deputy director of state and local initiatives at the American Immigration Council, said the mandate “invites profiling and turning entire communities into targets.”

Lydia Grizzell, policy and advocacy manager at the ACLU of Mississippi, warned the law could discourage immigrants from cooperating with police. “That increases the likelihood of individuals not reaching out to law enforcement when it’s needed — and that is opposite of the mission,” she said. The ACLU of Mississippi has not ruled out legal action.

A Small Population, A Big Impact

Mississippi has one of the smallest undocumented populations in the country — fewer than 28,000 people, less than 1% of the state’s population, according to American Immigration Council data using 2023 Census Bureau figures. Yet advocates argue the law’s impact would be disproportionate, potentially affecting families, workers, and communities far beyond that number.

Democratic state Sen. Derrick Simmons, the Senate minority leader, argued during floor debate that the state’s priorities were misplaced. “We’ll do so much better as a state if we can fund our schools, provide health care to those Mississippians who are without health care, and work on restoring the fundamental right to vote,” he said.

What’s Next

The law takes effect Wednesday, July 1, and the Mississippi DPS must begin developing methods to identify and track undocumented immigrants. Legal challenges are widely expected, with potential arguments centered on federal preemption — immigration enforcement is traditionally a federal domain — and Fourth Amendment concerns about unreasonable searches.

The two-year tracking requirement adds operational complexity as people move in and out of the state, and immigration status itself can change frequently. How the DPS will operationalize the registry and whether it will share data with ICE remain open questions.

For now, Mississippi becomes the first state to enact a formal immigrant registry law, and advocates and observers alike will be watching closely to see whether other Republican-led states follow suit.