The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the state of Iowa over a new law that would allow the state to arrest and deport migrants. The lawsuit argues that the state law is preempted by federal law and should be declared invalid. The Justice Department warned Iowa officials last week that they would sue unless they agreed not to enforce the law, which is similar to a Texas statute that has also been challenged.
In addition to the Justice Department’s lawsuit, civil rights and immigrant rights groups, including the ACLU, filed a separate suit to block the law on behalf of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice and two individual Iowans. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird stated that the state would not back down, claiming that the law exists because President Joe Biden has not secured the southern border. The Iowa law has increased fear among immigrant communities in the state, with concerns of racial and ethnic profiling and complications with police interactions.
Activist and advocacy groups have organized gatherings and protests in response to the law. The Texas law, which is similar to the Iowa law, was briefly enforced in March before being put on hold by a federal appeals court. The panel heard arguments in April and will issue a decision on the law’s constitutionality. There are still unanswered questions about how the laws in Iowa and Texas would be implemented, given that the enforcement of immigration law is traditionally handled by the federal government.
The federal lawsuit argues that the Constitution assigns the task of regulating immigration to the federal government, making the state law invalid. The Iowa lawsuit also contends that the law conflicts with federal law and could result in the arrest of individuals who are authorized to be in the U.S., such as those granted asylum or visas. The law could potentially lead to the prosecution of children brought to Iowa by their parents, causing chaos and harm to Iowa communities, according to the American Immigration Council.
Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican who signed the legislation into law, reiterated her support for the change, stating that it is her responsibility to protect the citizens of Iowa. Reynolds and other Republican leaders argue that President Biden’s refusal to enforce immigration laws threatens the safety of citizens, prompting Iowa to take action. The outcome of the lawsuits filed against the Iowa law remains to be seen as legal proceedings continue to unfold.
