SB 2114: Illegal immigration; criminalize under state law

SB 2114 creates a state felony for illegal entry into Mississippi while laying out no probable cause standard for an arrest. This will lead to racial profiling and detention of citizens and people with legal status. It could even put Mississippians at risk of being required to “show their papers” during routine interactions with law enforcement.

Update: SB 2114 began in the Senate as a much broader enforcement bill that included 287(g) mandates and new felony provisions. After crossing over to the House, it was amended by striking the entire contents and inserting the narrower, policy-based approach reflected in HB 538. Meanwhile, HB 538 moved through the House with that original framework intact, but when it reached the Senate, it was amended to remove the sovereign immunity provision. The result is that both bills now carry nearly identical anti-sanctuary policy language, but SB 2114 reflects the House position, including the stronger enforcement mechanism, while HB 538 reflects the Senate’s narrower version, just without that provision.