Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that will make it a crime for a person to be in the state if previously denied admission to or removed from the United States. The measure was signed Wednesday. It takes effect July 1. The law has elevated anxiety in Iowa’s immigrant communities and has prompted questions among legal experts and law enforcement on how it will be enforced. It mirrors part of a Texas law that is currently blocked in court. Iowa’s immigrant community groups are organizing informational meetings and materials to try to answer people’s questions.
The legislation could mean criminal charges for people who have outstanding deportation orders or who have previously been removed from or denied admission to the nation.
The law has elevated anxiety in Iowa's immigrant communities and prompted questions among legal experts and law enforcement on how it will be enforced.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that will make it a crime for a person to be in the state if previously denied admission to or removed from the United States.
“Simply stated, not only do we not have the resources to assume this additional task, we don’t even have the ability to perform this function,” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert said.