On Wednesday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) decided to follow in the footsteps of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) — signing a bill to allow for the deportation of illegal immigrants who were previously denied or deported from the country, angering pro-immigrant groups.
Called Senate File 2340, the bill would allow law enforcement to arrest and deport any illegal immigrant who has previously been deported or denied entry into the U.S. Last month, the Iowa House passed the measure with a vote of 64-30, with all except one Republican voting in favor of the bill.
“The Biden Administration has failed to enforce our nation’s immigration laws, putting the protection and safety of Iowans at risk,” Reynolds said. “Those who come into our country illegally have broken the law, yet Biden refuses to deport them. This bill gives Iowa law enforcement the power to do what he is unwilling to do: enforce immigration laws already on the books.”
Anyone who breaks this law would be guilty of a Class C Felony and face up to 10 years in prison if arrested for committing another felony. They will also be returned to their home country.
Iowa Gov. signs bill allowing arrest of illegal immigrants pic.twitter.com/hq2diQTf9P
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) April 11, 2024
It would not include illegal immigrants who have legal status while seeking asylum or are protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
For Iowans, it is one step closer to ensuring that citizens are safe from potentially dangerous illegal immigrants who have been allowed to freely roam the country thanks to the Biden administration.
Once the news of Reynolds signing the bill was released, many progressives were quick to voice their criticisms of the measure.
The Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice was unhappy about the new law, to say the least.
“This law ignores the fact of federal preemption, and it’s purely a political stunt in an election year that’s meant to drive fear and just perpetuate hateful campaign rhetoric,” said Erica Johnson, the executive director of Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a conservative bill if the ACLU didn’t bother chiming in. According to ACLU of Iowa Executive Director Mark Stringer, the bill is “one of the most extreme, discriminatory, and unconstitutional anti-immigrant bills in the country.”
Stringer and the ACLU appear to be okay with allowing illegal immigrants who were previously deported to be allowed in the U.S., regardless of the reasoning.
The law will take effect on July 1.
