House Bill 772 Summary

• Requires state and local law enforcement to cooperate fully with federal immigration law enforcement and determine immigration status during lawful contacts when reasonable suspicion exists that a person is unlawfully present.

• Creates state crimes for willful failure to carry alien registration documents (misdemeanor or felony depending on circumstances), unlawful stopping to hire workers, and transporting or harboring unlawful aliens (felony with fines of at least $10,000).

• Mandates E-Verify use by all Mississippi employers to verify work authorization of new hires and requires retention of verification records for at least 3 years; makes it a felony for unauthorized aliens to accept employment.

• Authorizes warrantless arrest of persons reasonably believed to have committed public offenses making them deportable and requires mandatory vehicle immobilization or impoundment when vehicles are used in furtherance of illegal alien presence.

• Establishes the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission Fund through the Department of Public Safety, funded by legislative appropriations, civil penalties, federal monies, and other sources for immigration enforcement and county jail reimbursement.