A new Iowa law was supposed to be in effect back on July 1st, but a federal judge has blocked that start of it.

Senate File 2340 that was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in April, after the legislation passed both the House and Senate, would allow law enforcement in Iowa to criminally charge an undocumented individual who illegally re-entered Iowa and could deport them. However, in June a federal judge put an injunction in place and sources say that it was because the federal immigration laws have jurisdiction, not state and local governments. 

Multicultural Family Resource Center Director Sara Huddleston works in Greene County as an individual who helps families of various cultural backgrounds get resources and assistance to move, work or live in Greene County. She graduated from Buena Vista University majoring in political science and law and has worked with immigration lawyers as a sexual and domestic assault victims’ advocate. 

Huddleston points out that while this is a controversial issue, it depends if county or city law enforcement wants to partner with the federal government. She gives an example of a situation similar to this when she was on the Storm Lake City Council.

“The immigration office in Omaha (Nebraska) came down to visit Storm Lake. And at that time, they wanted to have a signed contract if the law enforcement in Storm Lake would help with immigration for deportation. Storm Lake didn’t sign at that time that contract, but the Buena Vista County Sheriff did. So that’s when the whole two things can’t run because you have local government, which is the city, and the county. So two different entities.”  

Governor Reynolds released a statement, saying in part:

“With this injunction  states are left defenseless to the ongoing crisis at our southern border. Plainly, the Biden administration is failing to do their job and enforce federal immigration laws allowing millions to enter and re-enter without any consequence or delay. I signed this bill into law to protect Iowans and our communities from the results of this border crisis: rising crime, overdose deaths, and human trafficking.”

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is appealing the federal judge’s injunction.