Mississippi passes Arizona-like immigration law allowing police to check status
JACKSON, MS (AP) - The Mississippi Senate has passed a bill to let law enforcement officers check the status of people they think might be in the United States illegally.
The bill passed 34 to 15 Tuesday after a debate that stretched more than four hours.
The bill says an officer could check a person’s immigration status during traffic stops or other encounters, if the officer suspects the person might not have permission to be in the country.
Supporters say the bill would help keep out people who are living or working in the U.S. without proper documents.
Opponents say the bill amounts to xenophobic, election-year pandering.
The bill is Senate Bill 2179.
As a resident of Mississippi AND an immigrant I have mixed feelings on this. I think more needs to be done to curb illegal immigration but I’m not sure this is the way to go about doing it.
Of course legal immigrants HAVE to keep their green cards on them at all time under Federal Law but there’s no fair reason to presume someone who didn’t have relevant documents with them is here illegally. I have left the house a couple of times without my card, I’d hate to get into serious trouble for what should be a minor issue.
I imagine there will be legal challenges to this law, but for now it’s on the books.
For what it’s worth, Mississippi, while not anywhere near the Mexican border, does have a sizable Latino population, particularly in the coastal counties.