On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice stated that 22 additional cities, counties, and states would need to submit documents that could show if they refuse to share information with them and other federal immigration agencies. The U.S. Department of Justice sent 23 letters to states, cities and counties, including New York City, Los Angeles, Denver, and Oregon, asking for documents that show formal or informal orders, directives or instructions to law enforcement employees… about whether and how they may communicate with the Department of Justice or the Department of Homeland Security and/or Immigration and Customs Enforcement or their agents directly or indirectly. The department also stated it would subpoena these documents if the cities, states, and counties do not respond by February 23. U.S. Attorney general Jeff Sessions stated that protecting criminal aliens from federal immigration authorities is contrary to common sense and undermining the rule of law. Kai Williams, the communications manager for Jackson, stated that the mayor’s office had not received a letter and declined to comment. Jackson’s 2010 anti-racial profiling law, which bars police officers asking questions about immigrants during routine traffic stops, has attracted attention from federal and state officials. State leaders have criticized it, saying that undocumented immigrants can be a burden on taxpayers. Gov. Phil Bryant acknowledged that the ordinance was in place before signing an antisanctuary cities bill into legislation last March. The law, also known as Senate Bill 2710 at the time, went into effect immediately. It voids any policies that cities, counties, and agencies might adopt to restrict or prohibit anyone from cooperating or communicating with federal agencies to verify, report, or report on any person’s immigration status. It also nullifies any policies that allow a person to be lawfully present or have legal status in the state, regardless of whether it is in a city or county, or at a university, college community college, junior college, or college. Bryant signed the law the day Sessions announced that the Trump administration would withhold federal penal justice grants from states, cities, and counties that don’t fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. California’s federal court challenged the order, and it is currently awaiting appeal. The city’s fiscal 2016 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program (or JAG) award is responsible for the funding. According to the Department of Justice website, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program JAG allows state and unit of local government (tribes included) to fund a wide range of activities that prevent and control crime. It is based on each state’s specific needs and circumstances. According to records, Mississippi received $1.8million from the program during fiscal year 2017. The Justice Department’s latest memo was issued on the same day as Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, a Jackson-based non-profit, and its allies held its annual “Civic Engagement Day.” Representatives of the group claim that Jackson’s federal government actions are a reason to oppose legislation at the state level they consider anti-immigrant. House Bill 1506, which was drafted this year by Reps. Becky Currie (R-Brookhaven), Randy P. Boyd (R-Mantachie), and Steve Hopkins (R-Southhaven), is one of the proposed bills. House Bill 1506, like previous bills, would require state and local law enforcement officers to work with federal immigration officials. The bill would require public schools to verify the status of students enrolled and ban undocumented workers statewide from engaging in business transactions. E-Verify information, which allows employers to check the eligibility of their employees to work here, would be kept by the legislation for at least three decades. L. Patricia Ice (MIRA’s legal project manager), stated that “House Bill 1506 is one reason we’re harping so much on it” and added, “It’s trying to undo progressive things here like our Anti-Racial Profiling Ordinance.” Ice was a key contributor to Jackson’s Anti-Racial Profiling Ordinance. Last year, the legislature passed Senate Bill 2710. This bill would have eliminated the ordinance. She said that House Bill 1506 is taking it one step further. Ice stated that “this year they’re attacking the ordinance even more and telling people they can sue cities or political subdivisions if they have one of these ordinances.” “If the plaintiff wins, then the city must pay fines until the ordinance is removed.” Ice reacted against the first round of letters that the Department of Justice sent to the city last November. He said the ordinance did not violate the federal statute being cited by the department. Ice stated Wednesday that the ordinance is not strong enough, but that they are attacking it. The ordinance was intended to stop racial profiling of all people, not just immigrants. City leaders also supported it. Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, who responded in November to threats from the U.S. Department of Justice to reduce funding for law enforcement, stated that Jackson City officials “unflinchingly uphold” the canon of human right for all human beings. Aemal Nafis (MIRA board member, Madison resident), was present at the news conference to represent the Mississippi Muslim Association. She said that this is the first time the Mississippi Muslim community has had to oppose something like this. Aemal Nafis, a Madison resident and MIRA board member, encouraged MIRA supporters to run for office (including school boards or religious organisations) in order to fight these types of bills.