Mississippi — Mandatory 287(g) for all county jails + Glacier Act funding
Two Parallel Legislative Tracks
Mississippi is pursuing the most aggressive state-level immigration enforcement mandate in the country through two complementary legislative efforts.
1. Mississippi Immigration Enforcement Act of 2025 (SB 2511)
Mandatory 287(g) for all county jails — the most extreme state-level requirement found in research so far.
- Deadline: By January 1, 2026, every law enforcement agency operating a county detention facility must enter a 287(g) agreement with ICE
- Quarterly reporting: Beginning October 1, 2025, non-compliant agencies must report to the Department of Public Safety quarterly explaining noncompliance
- Enforcement: The Governor may remove from office any sheriff or local official who fails to comply
- Effect: This transforms every county jail in Mississippi into an ICE enforcement node — no opt-out
2. Mississippi Glacier (ICE) Act (SB 2329)
State grant program to fund 287(g) participation, filed by Sen. Michael McLendon (R-Hernando).
- Effective date: July 1, 2026
- Mechanism: State-funded grants to reimburse local agencies for 287(g) costs including detention bed space, equipment, training, travel, and lodging
- Funding sources: State appropriations plus federal grants, endowments, or gifts
- Significance: First-of-its-kind state program to subsidize 287(g) participation — removes the cost barrier that prevents some counties from participating
3. House Bill 538
Anti-sanctuary expansion — would require all state and local government entities to cooperate with immigration enforcement. Passed the Mississippi House in February 2026.
Current 287(g) Agreements in Mississippi
As of December 2025:
| County/Agency | Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Harrison County Sheriff | JEM + WSO | Gulf Coast, Gulfport/Biloxi |
| Stone County Sheriff | JEM + WSO + TFM | All three models — most aggressive |
| Monroe County Sheriff | JEM | Northeast MS |
| Lauderdale County Sheriff | WSO | Meridian area |
| MS Attorney General’s Office | TFM | Statewide street enforcement |
| MS State Auditor’s Office | TFM | Statewide (pending in Hinds County) |
Stone County stands out as the only jurisdiction with all three 287(g) models — jail screening, warrant service, AND street-level task force enforcement.
Additional IGSA/Holding Agreements
- Madison County: IGSA since 2018 (Canton area; ICE arrests documented Dec 2025)
- Hancock County: IGSA since 2020 (Gulf Coast transit point)
- Hinds County: Pending agreement through State Auditor’s office (Jackson metro)
Why This Matters
Mississippi’s mandatory 287(g) legislation is the most aggressive state-level immigration enforcement mandate discovered in this research. Combined with the Glacier Act funding and the Governor’s removal power over non-compliant sheriffs, Mississippi is building a statewide immigration enforcement infrastructure where every county jail becomes an ICE node. This is the logical endpoint of the 287(g) explosion nationally — a state where opting out is literally illegal.
Sources
- SB 2511: Mississippi Immigration Enforcement Act
- MS Indy: Bill would fund local law enforcement to partner with ICE
- Mississippi Today: Local and state agencies are aiding ICE crackdown
- Mississippi Today: Mississippi House passes bill to force local governments to cooperate with ICE
- WLOX: Bill introduced would increase ICE presence in Mississippi
- DHS: 287(g) Reaches More Than 1,000 Partnerships