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Mississippi Legislature· SB 2114Approved by Governor (Chapter 475)

Immigration; criminalize illegal entry and require cooperation with federal authorities., the official text

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Judiciary, Division B

By: Senator(s) Hill, McLendon, McMahan, Seymour

Senate Bill 2114

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO DEFINE TERMS; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER AND IDENTITIES OF ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS
RESIDING IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
TO ENFORCE THE IMMIGRATION LAWS AS AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO FEDERAL LAWS AND THE
LAWS OF THIS STATE; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO EXECUTE A
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; TO REQUIRE EACH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
OPERATING A COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY TO EXECUTE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH THE
UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
IMMIGRATION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 287(G); TO PROVIDE A FELONY
OFFENSE FOR A PERSON WHO IS AN ALIEN, REGARDLESS OF NATIONAL ORIGIN, AND ENTERS
OR ATTEMPTS TO ENTER THIS STATE DIRECTLY FROM A FOREIGN NATION AT ANY LOCATION
OTHER THAN A LAWFUL PORT OF ENTRY; TO PROVIDE A FELONY OFFENSE, IN ADDITION TO
ANY EXISTING PENALTY FOR THE UNDERLYING CRIME, FOR A PERSON WHO IS ARRESTED FOR
CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND IS DETERMINED TO BE AN ILLEGAL ALIEN, REGARDLESS
OF NATIONAL ORIGIN, AND UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES; TO AUTHORIZE A
SENTENCING COURT TO ISSUE A WRITTEN ORDER DISCHARGING THE PERSON AND REQUIRING
SAID INDIVIDUAL TO RETURN TO HIS OR HER COUNTRY OF ORIGIN; TO DIRECT THE COURT
TO REMAND THE PERSON SUBJECT TO THE ORDER TO THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO NOTIFY THE UNITED STATES
CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO ARRANGE
TRANSPORTATION FOR THE REPATRIATION OF THE PERSON BACK TO HIS OR HER COUNTRY OF
ORIGIN; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES TO PROSECUTION UNDER THIS ACT;
TO PROVIDE THAT A DEFENDANT CHARGED OR CONVICTED UNDER THIS ACT IS NOT ELIGIBLE
FOR EXPUNCTION, AN INTENSIVE SUPERVISION PROGRAM, NONADJUDICATION, PAROLE, OR
ANY EARLY RELEASE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE FOR SEVERABILITY; AND FOR RELATED
PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1.  As used in this act, the
following words have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly
requires otherwise:

(a)  "Alien" has the meaning
assigned by 8 USC § 1101, as that provision existed on January 1, 2026.

(b)  "Commissioner" means the
Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety.

(c)  "Crime of violence" means
any crime classified as a crime of violence under Section 97-3-2.

(d)  "Department" means
Department of Public Safety unless otherwise specified.

(e)  "Port of entry" means a
port of entry in the United States as designated by 19 C.F.R. Part 101.

(f)  "Sex offense" has the
meaning assigned under Section 45-33-23(h).

SECTION 2.  (1)  The department may
use all reasonable lawful investigative means available, including direct law
enforcement requests to the United States Department of Homeland Security,
coordination with Mississippi airport and port authorities, requests for
information under the Freedom of Information Act (5 USC § 552) or the
Mississippi Public Records Act, as applicable, or any other lawful means, to
determine, on an ongoing basis, the number and identities of all illegal aliens
residing in the State of Mississippi.

(2)  To the extent permitted by law, the
information collected by the department, as provided in subsection (1) of this
section, shall include:

(a)  The name and country of origin of the
illegal alien;

(b)  Whether the illegal alien is an adult
or minor;

(c)  The criminal history of the illegal
alien, including whether the alien has previously entered the United States
illegally;

(d)  The name and address of each illegal
alien, if applicable; and the date, location, and status of attempted removal
proceedings for each illegal alien, if applicable.

(3)  The department shall, where permitted by
law, coordinate with state and local officials to share information on any
illegal alien reasonably suspected of involvement in the commission of offenses
that would constitute a violation of federal or state law, including any state
offense for human trafficking or drug trafficking, in an effort to detect,
prevent, and mitigate threats to public safety within the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 3.  (1)  The department shall
designate such agents and other personnel that the commissioner deems necessary
and proper to enforce the immigration laws as authorized pursuant to federal
laws and the laws of this state.

(2)  The department shall make a reasonable
attempt to execute a memorandum of agreement with the
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency pursuant to Section
287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 USC § 1357 as soon as possible,
but no later than one hundred twenty (120) days, after the effective date of
this act, with the purpose of facilitating and encouraging cooperation under
the Section 287(g) program by every county of this state.

(3)  Nothing in this section may be construed
to prevent other law enforcement agencies of the state and political
subdivisions of the state, including local law enforcement agencies, from
enforcing immigration laws as authorized pursuant to federal laws and the laws
of this state.

SECTION 4.  (1)  By October 1, 2026,
each county law enforcement agency operating a county detention facility shall
make a reasonable attempt to execute a written agreement with the United States
Immigration and Customs Enforcement to participate in the immigration program
established under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 USC
§ 1357.  The requirement under this subsection does not require a law
enforcement agency to participate in a particular program model, including the
jail enforcement model.

(2)  Beginning no later than October 1, 2026,
and until the law enforcement agency enters into the written agreement required
under subsection (1) of this section, each county law enforcement agency shall
notify the department quarterly of the status of such written agreement and any
reason for noncompliance with this section, if applicable.

SECTION 5.  (1)  A person who is an
illegal alien and who is detained while entering or attempting to enter this
state directly from a foreign nation, regardless of national origin, at any
location other than a lawful port of entry shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for
not less than six (6) months.

(2)  (a)  A person who is convicted of a
criminal offense against the laws of this state that is not a crime of violence
or a sex offense that is punishable by imprisonment for a term of twelve (12)
months or more and who is determined to be an illegal alien, regardless of
national origin, and unlawfully present in the United States shall, in addition
to any penalty for the underlying crime, be guilty of a felony punishable by
imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than
two (2) years.

(b)  A person who is convicted of a criminal offense
against the laws of this state that is a crime of violence or a sex offense
that is punishable by imprisonment for a term of twelve (12) months or more and
who is determined to be an illegal alien, regardless of national origin, and
unlawfully present in the United States shall, in addition to any penalty for
the underlying crime, be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the
custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than three (3) and not
more than five (5) years.

SECTION 6.  (1)  It is an affirmative
defense to prosecution under this act that:

(a)  The federal government has granted
the defendant:

(i)  Lawful presence in the United
States; or

(ii)  Asylum under 8 USC § 1158;

(b)  The defendant's conduct does not
constitute a violation of 8 USC § 1325(a); or

(c)  The defendant was approved for
benefits under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program
between June 15, 2012, and July 16, 2021.

(2)  Participation in the following federal
programs does not provide an affirmative defense to prosecution under this act:

(a)  The Deferred Action for Parents of
Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program; or

(b)  Any program not enacted by the United
States Congress that is a successor to or materially similar to the program
specified in subsection (1)(c) of this section or paragraph (a) of this
subsection.

SECTION 7.  Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, a defendant charged or convicted under this act is not
eligible for expunction or nonadjudication.

SECTION 8.  The
Attorney General shall investigate any governmental entity alleged to be in
violation of this act and upon finding a violation may bring an action for
declaratory or injunctive relief to compel compliance.

SECTION 9.  The Department of Public
Safety is authorized and directed to adopt rules and regulations as necessary
to implement the provisions of this act and in doing so may coordinate with the
Department of Corrections.

SECTION 10.
If any one or more provisions, sections, subsections, sentences, clauses,
phrases or words of this act or the application thereof to any person or
circumstance is found to be unconstitutional, the same is hereby declared to be
severable and the balance of this act shall remain effective notwithstanding
such unconstitutionality.  The Legislature hereby declares that it would have
passed this act, and each provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause,
phrase or word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more
provisions, sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases or words be
declared unconstitutional.

SECTION 11.  The
provisions of this act shall stand repealed on July 1, 2028.

SECTION 12.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.
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