Miss. officials fear immigration bill could leave them open to lawsuits

Miss. officials fear immigration bill could leave them open to lawsuits

The Senate bill, which is awaiting House action, says a legal resident of the state may bring an action in Circuit Court to “challenge any official or agency … that adopts or implements a policy that limits or restricts” enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Monticello Mayor David Nichols called that provision “pretty extreme.”

If there is a judicial finding that the provision has been violated, a municipality must pay between $500 and $5,000 for every day the policy was in place after the filing of an action, the bill states.

Clarion Ledger
1/27/10