Mississippi immigration bills make communities safer from criminal illegal aliens

TUPELO, Miss. — AFA Action, the governmental affairs affiliate of the American Family Association, applauds the Mississippi Legislature for passing a package of immigration bills that will help keep families and communities safer from criminal illegal aliens. The bills are SB 2114, HB 538 and SB 2322.

“States absolutely have the authority to help enforce federal immigration law,” said Dr. Jameson Taylor, Director of the Center for Government Renewal with AFA Action. “Such joint-enforcement efforts occur all the time: for example, the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations is often delegated to state agencies. Immigration is no different. Also, the Supreme Court has suggested that where state police powers are concerned — as with all three of these bills — federal law does not displace state law, unless specifically indicated by Congress. These three bills encourage state and local law enforcement agencies to work with the federal government. Criminal penalties in the bills complement and mirror federal penalties.”

SB 2114, sponsored by Senator Angela Hill, codifies a pathway for Mississippi law enforcement to participate in the longstanding 287(g) program, signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The bill includes enhanced penalties for sex offenders and violent offenders who are not lawfully present in Mississippi or the United States. HB 538, sponsored by Rep. Lee Yancey, updates Mississippi’s existing sanctuary city law to require Attorney General enforcement. The immediate impact of the bill is that localities will be held accountable for refusing to honor federal detainer requests and judicial warrants. SB 2322, also sponsored by Senator Angela Hill, requires lawful presence, whether as a citizen or a visitor, to obtain a Mississippi driver’s license. The bill also does not recognize driver’s licenses given to illegal aliens in other states.

“Now more than ever, states must work with the federal government to help stop illegal immigration,” Taylor said. “It is a basic principle of our American democracy that the states are in charge of policing their own communities. We don’t need federal officers on every corner. We need local police to exercise their proper authority to help enforce reasonable immigration laws. That’s what this package of bills is about. Thank you, Speaker Jason White and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, for supporting these bills. We look forward to Gov. Tate Reeves signing them into law.”

AFA Action is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical family values in society and government by shaping public policy through education and advocacy. The mission of AFA Action is to inform and mobilize individuals to strengthen the biblical foundations of America by persuading individuals with the truth of the Gospel, challenging the lost to repent, promoting societal values that are consistent with Scripture, restraining evil and exposing the works of darkness, motivating people to take a stand on cultural and moral issues, and encouraging Christians to bear witness to the world the love of Jesus Christ. Find AFA Action Alerts here. 

For more information on the American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or X.        

For more information on AFA Action, visit www.afaaction.net or follow AFA Action on Facebook or X.

To interview an AFA or AFA Action spokesperson, contact Hamilton Strategies, [email protected] or Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.