On Wednesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a Texas-style immigration law that allows Iowa officers to arrest undocumented immigrants for the new felony of “illegal reentry” into the state.
The new law, which takes effect on July 1, joins the Lone Star State in making it criminal to attempt to enter Iowa after being previously deported or forbidden from entering the United States.
“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 written statement. “Those who enter our country illegally have breached the law, and Biden refuses to deport them. This bill empowers Iowa law enforcement to enforce existing immigration laws, which he refuses to do.
Biden has requested that Congress approve a bipartisan federal immigration law that would increase border spending and give him greater authority to battle illegal immigration, but Republicans turned it down after former President Donald Trump blasted it. Reynolds concurred, stating, “We don’t need a new law.”
What is the status of the Texas immigration law?
The courts are halting the Texas law that served as the model for Iowa’s legislation while they hear a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality.
The United States Justice Department is suing over the Texas law, claiming that it unconstitutionally usurps the federal government’s ability to enforce immigration rules and might cause administrative chaos.
Reynolds has made several excursions to the US-Mexico border in recent years to protest President Joe Biden’s immigration policy.
Iowa is now sending ten Iowa Department of Public Safety officers and 110 Iowa National Guard troops to the border to assist Texas’ state law enforcement and military immigration efforts.
This year, immigrant rights groups protested the Iowa legislation at the Capitol, vowing to fight it through legal action, strikes, and rallies.
“From Texas to Iowa, our message is No Tengan Miedo; have no fear,” Manny Galvez, an Escucha Mi Voz board member, said in a statement on March 20, after the House passed the legislation. “We will continue to oppose this unlawful law during rulemaking, in court, and on the streets.” We will keep organizing to end deportations, safeguard refugee children, and keep families together.”
What does the Iowa law do by criminalizing ‘illegal reentry’ into the state?
The law introduces a fresh offense called illegal reentry into the state, which is applicable to individuals who have been previously deported, removed, or denied admission to the United States.
The crime is typically classified as an aggravated misdemeanor, which can result in a two-year prison sentence. However, in specific situations, it can be elevated to a class D felony, which carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison.
If an individual is apprehended for another felony, the offense escalates to a class C felony, which can result in a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
The judge must issue an order compelling someone guilty of unlawful reentry to return to their home country.
The statute prohibits law enforcement authorities from arresting someone who is in a school, a place of worship, a health care facility, or a facility for survivors of sexual violence.
Furthermore, the legislation grants legal immunity to local law enforcement and other government officials charged with enforcing the policy.
