Hunter
01/20/25
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has directed law enforcement officials across the state to be ready to assist the Trump administration in their efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.
Iowa Capital Dispatch reports advocates with immigration groups are preparing for a return to policies in effect during Trump’s first term in office, like the so-called Remain in Mexico policy requiring asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases are pending. They also expect a return of the Title 42 policy allowing the U.S. to expel and bar migrants claiming asylum status, in addition to changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Trump has also outlined his plans for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, creating a team led by “border czar” Tom Homan.
Governor Reynolds last week sent a memo to Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens and Department of Corrections director Beth Skinner saying Iowa law enforcement will fully cooperate and assist the federal government in upholding federal immigration laws. State law enforcement is being directed to honor detainer requests from the Department of Homeland Security for transferring individuals to immigration authorities, and to notify ICE when a person is due to be released from criminal custody.
Advocates for the immigration community criticized the Governor’s actions, with one group saying she should focus on keeping families together while safeguarding the essential workers who are the backbone of Iowa’s economy.