From July 1, authorities in Iowa will be able to arrest and deport illegal immigrants who have been deported in the past or denied entry into the United States. The bill that would make this possible was signed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday.
Iowa GOP Governor Signs Bill Allowing State Authorities To Arrest, Deport Illegal Immigrants https://t.co/akvCYQrC8e pic.twitter.com/ZYTltqF4pv
— Daily Wire News (@DailyWireNews) April 11, 2024
The bill was passed by Iowa’s GOP-controlled legislature last month, with the support of multiple Democrats.
Under the new state law, illegal reentry into the country would be a crime in Iowa and illegal immigrants who break the law could face up to two years in prison in addition to deportation from the country.
An illegal immigrant arrested for committing another felony could face up to 10 years in prison.
Under the law, Iowa judges are required to submit an order for someone found to have entered the U.S. illegally to be returned to their home country.
When she signed the legislation, Reynold said, “The Biden Administration has failed to enforce our nation’s immigration laws, putting the protection and safety of Iowans at risk. 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.”
Expectedly, the law has been criticized by many on the left, as they say it interferes with the federal government and leads to confusion among immigrants.
Mark Stringer, the executive director of the Iowa ACLU called the immigration law “one of the most extreme, discriminatory, and unconstitutional anti-immigrant bills in the country.”
Erica Johnson, executive director of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice also claims that the law “ignores the fact of federal preemption”
“…and it’s purely a political stunt in an election year that’s meant to drive fear and just perpetuate hateful campaign rhetoric,” Johnson added.
Proponents of the law, however, argue that such law is necessary as the federal government has failed to secure the southern border and has chosen to let illegal immigrants continually troop into the United States, making the susceptible to criminals and gang members.
