State Auditor Shad White said making illegal immigration a state crime is a central part of his 2026 legislative agenda, and his office said the Mississippi Senate has passed a bill to that effect.
The auditor’s office estimated that illegal immigration costs state taxpayers as much as $100 million a year, according to a statement from the office.
White’s office said the legislation is intended to crack down on illegal immigration and redirect tax dollars toward Mississippians. The office described the move as part of efforts to ensure state resources benefit residents rather than undocumented immigrants.
The auditor’s office said the Senate had previously rejected similar measures for years before passing the current bill. The office provided the information but did not release additional details about the bill’s provisions or the timing of its next steps.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
