Iowa Moves Forward with Anti-Illegal Immigration Bill Amid Biden Administration’s Failure to Enforce Immigration Laws
The state of Iowa is taking a stand against illegal immigration with the advancement of an anti-illegal immigration bill that would grant local police the authority to arrest illegal immigrants who have previously been deported. This move follows a similar law in Texas that is currently facing a legal challenge by the Biden administration. Senate File 2340, which criminalizes the re-entry of previously deported illegal immigrants, has successfully passed both the Senate and the House and is now awaiting Governor Kim Reynolds’ signature. Governor Reynolds, a Republican, has expressed her support for the bill and intends to sign it into law, with the legislation set to take effect in July.
In a statement to the Des Moines Register, Governor Reynolds criticized President Biden and his administration for their failure to enforce immigration laws, which she believes compromises the sovereignty of the nation and the safety of its citizens. She emphasized the importance of states taking action to secure their borders and protect their citizens, stating that Americans deserve nothing less.
Iowa is not alone in its efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Several other states, including New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, have proposed similar measures to address this pressing issue. However, it is the state of Texas that has gained the most attention due to Governor Greg Abbott’s signing of S.B. 4 in December. This law grants police the authority to arrest illegal immigrants and allows judges to order their deportation.
The Biden administration filed a lawsuit in January, arguing that S.B. 4 encroaches on federal territory, citing a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that struck down parts of an Arizona law seeking to empower state and local officials. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the law, claiming it would make communities in Texas less safe, burden law enforcement, and create chaos and confusion at the southern border. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals initially blocked the law from going into effect, but it was briefly allowed to proceed by the Supreme Court, which later referred it back to the appeals court without ruling on its merits. The 5th Circuit has once again blocked the law, and both sides presented oral arguments on Wednesday.
Governor Abbott has vehemently defended the law, asserting its necessity due to the Biden administration’s failure to secure the border. The United States continues to grapple with a three-year border crisis, and concerns are growing that the summer months could bring another record surge in illegal immigration. Fiscal year 2023 witnessed a new record of 2.4 million migrant encounters. Governor Abbott argued that dangerous situations at the border and President Biden’s actions, which he believes violate U.S. laws, make the law necessary.
Governor Abbott has clashed with the Biden administration on border security, including disputes over the cutting of Texas’ razor wire at the border and the establishment of buoys on the Rio Grande. Abbott has made it clear that he intends to continue implementing these measures to protect the sovereignty of Texas and the United States.
This article contains information from the Associated Press. Adam Shaw, a politics reporter for Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security, contributed to this report.
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