(Des Moines, IA) -- A lawsuit has been filed to block a new state immigration law. (SF 2340) Several civil rights groups say the law conflicts with existing federal law. The suit maintains the law will have negative consequences on those in Iowa who reentered the country after being deported, even if authorized to be in the U.S.
"This ugly law is deeply harmful to Iowa families and communities. Iowa lawmakers knowingly targeted people who are protected by federal immigration laws and who are legally allowed to be here, like people granted asylum, or special visas given to survivors of domestic violence or other crimes," said ACLU of Iowa legal director Rita Bettis Austen.
"And there are lots of good reasons — related to foreign relations, national security, humanitarian interests, and our constitutional system — why the federal government enforces our immigration law, instead of all 50 states going out and doing their own thing to enforce their own separate immigration schemes. It’s hard to overstate how awful and bizarre this law is," Bettis Austen said.
Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement in response to a lawsuit challenging SF 2340:
“As Governor, I have a responsibility to protect the citizens of Iowa. Since President Biden refuses to enforce our nation’s immigration laws – threatening the safety of our citizens – Iowa will step in.”
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird today released the following statement in response to the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice’s challenge to Iowa’s immigration law:
“When Biden fails to do his job and secure our border, States have to take matters into their own hands. Iowa’s law is not unique; it simply enforces immigration laws while Biden refuses to. Iowa stands ready to defend our immigration law that keeps Iowa communities safe.”