The Mississippi state Senate passed an “anti-sanctuary cities” bill and sent it to the desk of Gov. Phil Bryant by a margin of 36-11 Tuesday.

Senate Bill 2710 prohibits state agencies, departments, counties, colleges, and employees thereof from “creating, planning, implementing, assisting, participating in, or enabling a sanctuary policy.” This bill, which invalidates any “sanctuary policy” seeking to shield illegal immigrants from the enforcement of federal immigration laws, says that the above institutions cannot prohibit their employees from checking a person’s immigration status.

“No government entity — whether at city hall or a university campus — can grant amnesty to illegal aliens and violate federal laws.”

“This state law banning sanctuary cities is a major step forward for law and order in Mississippi,” Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said, according to The Clarion-Ledger. “I appreciate the work of Sen. [Sean] Tindell to ensure our local governments and educational institutions follow federal immigration laws. No government entity — whether at city hall or a university campus — can grant amnesty to illegal aliens and violate federal laws.”

Although there are no explicit sanctuary cities in Mississippi, proponents of the measure note there have been individual instances where local authorities have refused to comply with immigration enforcement agents.

“We’ve had instances of cities attempting to ignore federal law or have law enforcement not check immigration status,” said one of the bill’s authors, Senate Judiciary Chairman Tindell (R-Gulfport) Tuesday, according to The Clarion-Ledger.

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A report released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Monday confirmed Tindell’s claim.

ICE detailed localties nationwide that ignored immigration detainer requests for the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2017. The document showed Harrison County in Mississippi ignored an ICE detainer for a Honduran national convicted of a DUI on Feb. 2.

The bill also addresses the city of Jackson’s controversial 2010 ordinance that prevented police officers from inquiring about a person’s immigration status.

“Taxpayers expect their state and its political subdivisions to abide by federal immigration laws. I look forward to signing this bill,” Bryant tweeted Tuesday.

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