Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill Wednesday that allows both state and local enforcement authorities to arrest illegal immigrants who reenter the United States and authorizes state courts to carry out deportations.
invoice SF2340Scheduled to go into effect on July 1, it will allow the state to enforce immigration laws and prevent illegal re-entry into the state. according to Go to press release. If caught by state authorities, illegal immigrants can face up to two years in prison. (Related: Exclusive: Red states submit brief to DHS to protect against illegal immigration)
“The Biden administration is failing to enforce our nation’s immigration laws, putting the protection and safety of Iowans at risk. Undocumented immigrants are breaking the law, yet Biden refuses to deport them. “This bill gives Iowa law enforcement the power to do what he doesn’t want to do: enforce immigration laws that are already on the books,” Reynolds said.
Today, we gave Iowa law enforcement the power to do what Joe Biden won’t do: deport illegal criminals to protect our state. pic.twitter.com/GaQwdprekb
— Kim Reynolds (@KimReynoldsIA) April 10, 2024
As U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows that authorities have encountered nearly 7.3 million illegal immigrants since 2021, many Republican lawmakers across the country have turned their state away from illegal immigrants. trying to protect. However, legal battles continue in some states. We are working with the federal government on these efforts.
Texas, where a law similar to Iowa’s new law has been blocked in court, is in an ongoing battle with the Biden administration over the state’s constitutional right to protect itself from the flood of migrants crossing the border. Nevertheless, Republican lawmakers have shown significant support for the Lone Star State in recent months, with some sending in the National Guard to help secure the border.
The Iowa Legislature passed the bill last month, but there appear to be questions and concerns about how officials should approach the new additions.
Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert said. Associated Press In March, it said immigration status is not part of the department’s efforts to protect communities. “We don’t have the equipment, we don’t have the money, we don’t have the personnel” to support the new mission, Wingert told the media.
“Simply put, not only do we not have the resources to take on this additional mission, we don’t even have the capacity to perform this function,” Wingert said.
Sean Ireland, president of the Iowa Association of Sheriffs and Deputies and a Linn County deputy sheriff, told The Associated Press in March that many officials look to county attorneys for guidance on how to properly implement and enforce the new law. He said it was necessary.
