Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation on Wednesday that will allow state authorities to arrest migrants who were previously denied entry or deported from the US.
“The Biden administration has failed to enforce our nation’s immigration laws, putting the protection and safety of Iowans at risk,” Reynolds said in a statement announcing the signing of SF 2340.
“Those who come into our country illegally have broken the law, yet Biden refuses to deport them. This bill gives Iowa law enforcement the power to do what he is unwilling to do: enforce immigration laws already on the books.”
The new law, passed by the Iowa legislature last month, makes it an aggravated misdemeanor offense — punishable by up to two years in prison — for migrants to be in the Hawkeye State if they have outstanding deportation orders, were previously deported or were at one point barred from entering the US.
The law, which goes into effect July 1, elevates the crime to a felony offense if the person’s previous removal orders were related to misdemeanor convictions for drug crimes, crimes against people or any type of felony conviction.
Police are barred from arresting suspected migrants in violation of the law at places of worship, schools or medical facilities.
Arrested individuals may be allowed by a judge to leave the country and not face charges, according to the law’s text.
The head of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa slammed the legislation last month as one of the “most extreme, discriminatory, and unconstitutional anti-immigrant bills” in the country, arguing that it will “wreak havoc” on both citizens and noncitizens alike.
“The Iowa law enforcement and state judges tasked with authority to carry out this outrageous legislation are not trained in immigration law and have no proper authority to enforce it,” Mark Stringer, executive director of the Iowa ACLU, said in a statement.
“This legislation encourages and facilitates racial profiling and stereotyping. It undermines — not promotes — public safety and the rule of law,” he added. “It will consume already strapped state court and law enforcement resources.”
The law is similar to Texas’ SB4 legislation, which makes crossing the border illegally a state crime and allows state authorities to arrest, jail, prosecute and deport migrants who enter the country between ports of entry.
Texas’ law, a part of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star initiative, has been blocked by an appeals court pending litigation.
The Justice Department says that the Texas law violates the US Constitution, arguing that the founding document gives the federal government sole authority to enforce federal immigration laws.
They are worried about resources being used up to remove these invaders… wake the F up! These illegals are blowing through our resources by being here in the first place it may cost a few bucks to remove them but that’s a Meir Pitence compared to them staying here.
Mark Stringer…..ROFLMAO
What is so hard to understand? If you enter ANY COUNTRY illegally, you will be arrested, charged and either given prison time or D E P O R T E D. These MORONS that keep saying illegals have rights….NO. They don’t have any rights because they are I L L E G A L S. IF they enter legally, then they are allowed due process. No one has a problem with that. BUT, it’s the fools that come up with the idea that anybody can enter the country illegally and be entitled to legal assistance. Try that in any other country and see what happens.
“The Justice Department says that the Texas law violates the US Constitution, arguing that the founding document gives the federal government sole authority to enforce federal immigration laws.” OKAY, then enforce the law!!! Quit using resources to go after Texas; just enforce the law.
If the Federal Gov can’t handle the load, then the states need to pick up the slack and arrest every damn illegal immigrant and deport, deport, deport . FJB.