The Mississippi Senate passed a bill Tuesday to let law enforcement officers check the status of people they think might be in the United States illegally.

    The bill — styled after an Arizona law that took effect in 2010 — says an officer could check a person’s immigration status during traffic stops or other encounters, if the officer suspects the person might not have permission to be in the United States.

    Supporters said the bill would help keep out people who are living or working in the U.S. without proper documents.

    Opponents of the bill said innocent people could end up in jail while their immigration status is verified. They also said law officers could become vulnerable to lawsuits from people who think the officers are doing too little to stop illegal immigration.

    Both the primary law enforcement leaders in Lauderdale County, Sheriff Billy Sollie and Meridian Police Department Chief Lee Shelbourn said they are in a wait and see mode for the final outcome of the bill will be.

    “Naturally, any law created by our legislators and signed by the governor will be enforced by us in this department,” Sollie said. “But the reality of it is we already have to deal with this issue from time to time.”

    Sollie said although the instances don’t arise often, each year there are people apprehended by deputies who subsequently are handed off to federal immigration authorities with the intent of sending those individuals back across the border.

    Shelbourn said the bill as it reads right now wouldn’t change how patrol officers do their jobs.

    “But if there are any major changes to the final law as it is signed, we will address it,” Shelbourn said.

    The bill passed 34-15 after a debate that stretched on more than four hours. It’s unclear whether the bill would survive in the House. A committee chairman will decide whether to allow debate in the committee. If the bill passes committee, the chairman would then decide whether to bring it up for debate in the full House.

    The bill’s chief sponsor, Republican Sen. Joey Fillingane of Sumrall, said he believes enacting a law would safeguard American jobs, make the state safer and protect taxpayers providing education, health benefits or other services to people who aren’t authorized to be in the country.

    On the other side of the debate, Sen. Gray Tollison, D-Oxford, said, “We’re getting involved in an issue that is for the federal government to decide. I agree the immigration system needs fixing, but it should be fixed in Washington, D.C.”

    The bill is Senate Bill 2179.