Des Moines, Iowa — The federal government intends to file a lawsuit tomorrow (Tuesday) to block enforcement of an Iowa law that makes illegal re-entry into the U.S. a state crime.
The new law, signed by Governor Reynolds in April, also lets Iowa judges issue deportation orders for people arrested in Iowa who entered the country illegally. Delegates at the Iowa GOP’s state convention cheered the governor this weekend when she mentioned the law.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird told state convention delegates the situation at the US/Mexico border out of control and she’ll defend the new state law in court.
In a letter to state officials, the US Justice Department said the Iowa law conflicts with federal immigration law and interferes with the functions of the federal government. A federal lawsuit is blocking a similar law in Texas from going into effect. In 2012, the U-S Supreme Court ruled the federal government, not states, had the authority to set immigration policy. Since then, four new justices have been appointed to the court.
