Impact Statement

IMPACT STATEMENT

Mississippi HB 538 and SB 2114 threaten immigrant families, mixed-status households, workers, students, and communities across Mississippi. IAJE opposes policies that turn local institutions into immigration enforcement extensions and deepen fear, instability, racial profiling, family separation, and barriers to care.

  • Executive Summary

The Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity (IAJE) stands with immigrant families and all Mississippi communities that will be harmed by HB 538 and SB 2114. These bills expand state and local involvement in immigration enforcement and create consequences that reach far beyond people who are undocumented.

When immigrant residents fear that schools, hospitals, local agencies, or law enforcement may cooperate with federal immigration authorities, entire communities become less safe and less healthy. Families may avoid reporting crimes, attending school events, seeking medical care, accessing legal support, or participating in public life.

  • What HB 538 and SB 2114 Would Do

HB 538 (HB 538 bill ) prohibits local “sanctuary” policies and requires government entities and employees to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

Core Concern: The bill pressures local governments and public employees to participate in immigration enforcement, even when that cooperation may undermine trust, safety, and access to basic services.

SB 2114 (SB 2114 summary) criminalizes illegal entry under state law and requires cooperation with federal authorities, including expanded participation in 287(g)-style enforcement agreements.

Core Concern: The bill expands state-level immigration enforcement and increases the likelihood that local systems will become entangled with federal detention and deportation pipelines.

IAJE is concerned that HB 538 and SB 2114 will:

  • Increase racial profiling and discriminatory enforcement.

  • Undermine public safety by discouraging immigrant residents from seeking help.

  • Harm children in immigrant and mixed-status families through stress, absenteeism, and family instability.

  • Limit access to health care and community services.

  • Damage local economies that depend on immigrant workers, consumers, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and taxpayers.

  • Deepen trauma, fear, and family separation across Mississippi communities.

Area of Impact What These Bills Could Cause Who Is Affected Public Safety Fewer crime reports, fewer witnesses, less trust in local institutions Immigrant residents, survivors, neighborhoods, law enforcement, emergency responders Education Increased stress, absenteeism, fear at school, family disruption Children, students, parents, teachers, school districts Health Care Delayed care, avoided clinics, worse mental health outcomes Families, children, pregnant people, health providers, public health systems Civil Rights Higher risk of racial profiling and discriminatory stops Latino, Black, Asian, Indigenous, immigrant, and immigrant-perceived communities Economy Workforce instability, reduced spending, harm to small businesses Workers, employers, local businesses, farms, service industries, communities Family Well-Being Detention, separation, trauma, housing and income instability Mixed-status families, caregivers, children, elders

Impact Map

  • Background: Why This Matters

Mississippi’s immigrant communities are part of the state’s families, neighborhoods, schools, faith communities, workforce, and economy. Immigrants contribute through labor, caregiving, entrepreneurship, taxes, cultural life, and civic participation.

Policies that expand immigration enforcement into local institutions can create what researchers call a “chilling effect.” This means people avoid services or public systems not because they do not need them, but because they fear detention, deportation, family separation, or being questioned about immigration status.

Mississippi Immigrants Strengthen the State

Immigrants are deeply connected to Mississippi’s economy and public life. Recent data from FWD.us reports that immigrants in Mississippi had $2.5 billion in annual spending power and paid $722 million in combined taxes. Older state-level research from the American Immigration Council also found that immigrants contribute significantly to state and local tax revenue, Social Security, Medicare, and local businesses.

Their Economic Contributions

Contribution Why It Matters $2.5 billion in annual spending power Supports local businesses, housing markets, grocery stores, transportation, and community services. $722 million in combined taxes Helps fund public services, schools, infrastructure, and local government needs. Workforce participation Supports industries that rely on immigrant labor, including service, care, construction, agriculture, food, and small business sectors. Entrepreneurship and small business activity Creates jobs, sustains neighborhoods, and expands local economic activity.

  • Impact on Community

HB 538 and SB 2114 have tremendous changes on immigration enforcement policies that do not only affect individuals. They affect local economies, public institutions, children, employers, schools, clinics, and entire communities.

1. Public Safety

HB 538 and SB 2114 may reduce public safety by making immigrant residents less likely to contact law enforcement or emergency services.

When local agencies are seen as connected to immigration enforcement, people may avoid:

  • Reporting domestic violence, wage theft, trafficking, or workplace abuse.

  • Calling 911 during emergencies.

  • Serving as witnesses.

  • Cooperating with investigations.

  • Seeking protective orders or victim services.

Community impact: If people fear that asking for help could expose themselves or loved ones to immigration enforcement, crimes may go unreported and dangerous situations may continue unchecked.

2. Education and Children

Children in immigrant and mixed-status families may experience heightened stress, fear, and instability when enforcement expands.

Potential effects include:

  • Increased absenteeism.

  • Lower academic performance.

  • Anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms.

  • Fear that a parent or caregiver may not return home.

  • Reduced participation in school events and services.

  • Disruptions caused by detention, deportation, or family separation.

Community impact: Schools are strongest when students feel safe, supported, and connected. Policies that create fear in families can disrupt learning and weaken school communities.

3. Health Care and Public Health

Expanded immigration enforcement can discourage families from seeking care, even when they are sick, pregnant, injured, or in crisis.

Families may delay or avoid:

  • Primary care.

  • Prenatal care.

  • Pediatric visits.

  • Vaccinations.

  • Mental health services.

  • Emergency care.

  • Community health programs.

Community impact: Avoided care can worsen individual health outcomes and increase public health risks. Fear-based policies can make it harder for clinics, hospitals, and public health agencies to serve the whole community.

4. Civil Rights and Racial Profiling

HB 538 and SB 2114 raise serious civil rights concerns because immigration enforcement often relies on assumptions about race, ethnicity, language, accent, or perceived national origin.

Communities at risk may include:

  • Latino communities.

  • Black immigrant communities.

  • Asian immigrant communities.

  • Indigenous communities.

  • Mixed-status families.

  • People who speak languages other than English.

  • U.S. citizens who are perceived to be immigrants.

Community impact: Racial profiling harms trust, dignity, and safety. People should not be treated as suspicious because of how they look, speak, worship, work, or travel.

5. Economic Stability

Immigrant workers, consumers, and business owners are part of Mississippi’s economic foundation. Enforcement expansion can destabilize households and workplaces.

Potential economic consequences include:

  • Workers missing work because of fear, detention, court dates, or family crisis.

  • Employers losing experienced employees.

  • Reduced consumer spending in local communities.

  • Small businesses losing customers or staff.

  • Increased financial hardship for families.

  • Greater demand on emergency support networks.

Community impact: When families are destabilized, local economies feel the effects. Mississippi benefits when workers and families are safe, stable, and able to participate fully.

6. Family Well-Being

The threat of detention and deportation creates stress that can affect entire households, especially children and caregivers.

Families may face:

  • Sudden separation.

  • Loss of income.

  • Housing instability.

  • Childcare disruption.

  • Legal costs.

  • Mental health trauma.

  • Long-term grief and fear.

Community impact: Family separation does not only affect one household. It affects schools, churches, workplaces, neighbors, and community support systems.

Impact Pathway

  • IAJE’s Position

IAJE opposes HB 538 and SB 2114 because these bills threaten dignity, safety, family unity, and community well-being. IAJE believes Mississippi should advance policies that:

  • Protect all families, regardless of immigration status.

  • Strengthen trust between communities and public institutions.

  • Prevent racial profiling and discrimination.

  • Keep schools, hospitals, and public services accessible.

  • Support workers, employers, and local economies.

  • Respect due process and constitutional protections.

  • Center immigrant communities in decisions that affect their lives.

  • IAJE’s Response

Raise Public Awareness: IAJE will continue sharing accurate, accessible information about HB 538 and SB 2114 and their likely impact on Mississippi communities.

Center Immigrant Community Voices: IAJE will amplify the lived experiences of immigrant families so that policy conversations reflect the realities of those most affected.

Engage Local Leaders: IAJE calls on community leaders, faith leaders, educators, health care providers, advocates, and elected officials to stand with immigrant families and protect the dignity, safety, and human rights of all Mississippians.

Support Community Preparedness: IAJE encourages families and community partners to strengthen preparedness through rights education, trusted referrals, safety planning, and rapid response networks.

References:

Health Affairs Brief, November 6, 2025. “Mitigating The Health Impacts Of Exclusionary Immigration Policies: An Evidence Review,” https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/briefs/mitigating-health-impacts-exclusionary-immigration-policies-evidence-review

Home - FWD.us. (n.d.). Immigrants make Mississippi stronger. FWD.us. https://www.fwd.us/

How immigration enforcement is harming US schools and students. (2026, April 14). Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-immigration-enforcement-is-harming-us-schools-and-students/

Mississippi Legislature- https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2026/html/HB/0500-0599/HB0538IN.htm

Partners. (2016). The contributions of new Americans in Mississippi. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/nae-ms-report.pdf

Pillai, A., Pillai, D., & Artiga, S. (2025, August 9). Potential Impacts of mass detention and deportation efforts on the Health and Well-Being of Immigrant Families. KFF. KFF — Potential Impacts of Mass Detention and Deportation Efforts on the Health and Well-Being of

SB 2114 Summary- https://legiscan.com/MS/bill/SB2114/2026

Young, M. T., Tafolla, S., Saadi, A., Sudhinaraset, M., Chen, L., & Pourat, N. (2023). Beyond “Chilling Effects”: Latinx and Asian Immigrants’ Experiences With Enforcement and Barriers to Health Care. Medical care, 61(5), 306–313. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001839

HB 538 & SB 2114 — Social Media, Website & Communications Plan

Did You Know

Two Mississippi bills have been passed into law, (HB538, SB2114) and they will change everyday life for all of us, not just immigrant families.

  • Schools, hospitals, and police can now be pulled into immigration enforcement. Local workers may now be required to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, leaving neighbors afraid to use basic services.

  • When people are afraid, they go silent. Fewer 911 calls, fewer crime reports, fewer witnesses. That can make neighborhoods less safe.

  • Kids feel the stress. Children in mixed-status families may miss school, struggle to focus, and worry a parent won't come home.

  • Health gets worse when people stay away. Families may skip checkups, prenatal care, vaccines, and emergency care because they're scared.

  • The local economy can suffer. When workers miss work or leave, businesses, farms, and neighborhoods feel it.

  • Profiling hurts everyone. People can be targeted for how they look, speak, or sound — even U.S. citizens.

Did you know immigrants are a big part of Mississippi's economy?

  • Immigrant residents have about $2.5 billion in spending power each year.

  • They pay roughly $722 million in taxes that help fund schools, roads, and public services.

  • They work in caregiving, farming, construction, food service, and small businesses across the state.

IAJE believes: Mississippi is strongest when families feel safe, schools and clinics stay welcoming, and no one is singled out for how they look or speak.

IAJE is: sharing clear information, lifting up immigrant voices, working with local leaders, and helping families know their rights and plan for safety.

¿Sabías que?

Un resumen en lenguaje sencillo de la Declaración de Impacto sobre las leyes HB 538 y SB 2114 de Mississippi.

Dos leyes de Mississippi ya fueron aprobadas (HB 538 y SB 2114) y cambiarán la vida diaria de todos y todas, no solo de las familias inmigrantes.

  • Las escuelas, los hospitales y la policía ahora pueden quedar envueltos en la aplicación de las leyes migratorias. Los empleados locales podrían verse obligados a cooperar con las autoridades federales de inmigración, lo que hace que los vecinos tengan miedo de usar los servicios básicos.

  • Cuando la gente tiene miedo, se queda callada. Menos llamadas al 911, menos denuncias de delitos, menos testigos. Eso puede hacer que los vecindarios sean menos seguros.

  • Los niños y niñas sienten el estrés. Los hijos de familias de estatus migratorio mixto pueden faltar a la escuela, tener dificultad para concentrarse y preocuparse de que un padre o madre no regrese a casa.

  • La salud empeora cuando la gente no va al médico. Las familias pueden dejar de ir a chequeos, al cuidado prenatal, a las vacunas y a urgencias por miedo.

  • La economía local puede sufrir. Cuando los trabajadores faltan al trabajo o se van, los negocios, las granjas y los vecindarios lo sienten.

  • El perfil racial nos daña a todos. Las personas pueden ser señaladas por su apariencia, su forma de hablar o su acento — incluso ciudadanos estadounidenses.

¿Sabías que las personas inmigrantes son una parte importante de la economía de Mississippi?

  • Las personas inmigrantes tienen cerca de $2.5 mil millones en poder de gasto cada año.

  • Pagan alrededor de $722 millones en impuestos que ayudan a financiar escuelas, carreteras y servicios públicos.

  • Trabajan en el cuidado, la agricultura, la construcción, los servicios de comida y los pequeños negocios en todo el estado.

IAJE cree que: Mississippi es más fuerte cuando las familias se sienten seguras, las escuelas y clínicas siguen siendo acogedoras y nadie es señalado por su apariencia o su forma de hablar.

IAJE está: compartiendo información clara, amplificando las voces de las personas inmigrantes, trabajando con líderes locales y ayudando a las familias a conocer sus derechos y a planear para su seguridad.