Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires law enforcement officers to verify the immigration status of arrested individuals.

Highlights:

• Requires law enforcement officers to make a “reasonable attempt” to determine the immigration status of an arrested individual if officer "reasonably" believes that the arrested individual is an undocumented immigrant (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a law enforcement official from considering race, color, or national origin in implementing the requirements of this bill (Sec. 2)

• Specifies that any of the following forms of identification can be used to demonstrate that a person is not an undocumented immigrant (Sec. 2):
• A valid Mississippi driver's license;
• A valid Mississippi identification card;
• A valid tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification;
• Any valid United States federal, state or local government issued ID or driver's license, as long as the issuing entity requires proof of legal residence before issuance; and
• Proof that the person is an international business executive of an international corporation authorized to transact business in Mississippi.

• Specifies that a person's immigration status may be determined by (Sec. 2):
• A law enforcement officer who is authorized by the federal government to verify a person's immigration status; or
• The United State Immigration and Customs Enforcement or United States Customs and Border Protection.

• Requires notification to the United States Customs and Border Protection when an undocumented immigrant residing in the United States has been convicted of violating state or local law, discharged from prison, or imposed with monetary obligations (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits undocumented immigrants from entering in a “business transaction” with the state (Sec. 3).

• Defines “business transaction” as the application or renewal of certain items including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 3):
• Motor vehicle license plate;
• Driver’s license;
• State issued identification card; or
• Business license.

• Requires employers to keep a record of the immigration status verification of each employee for the duration of the employee's employment or 3 years, whichever is longer (Sec. 5).

• Prohibits employers from utilizing a third party to hire undocumented immigrants (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text