Federal Appeals Court Affirms Halt on Iowa’s Illegal Immigration Law
A federal court has put Iowa’s law aimed at boosting state-level enforcement of illegal immigration on hold, citing its contradiction with federal regulations.
Iowa’s Senate File 2340 was designed to penalize anyone who, after being deported or denied entry by federal authorities, attempts to reenter or live in the state.
The court upheld the district judge’s conclusions that Iowa’s statute is likely in conflict with the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, as federal law already sets penalties for illegal reentry and grants federal officials considerable discretion over deportation cases.
The appellate court found that Iowa’s law, by establishing a separate state-level offense, encroaches on the federal government’s decisions regarding deportation and repatriation.
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The ruling also raised concerns that state-level prosecutions under this law could conflict with the federal government’s ability to prioritize immigration enforcement and manage the diplomatic challenges associated with deporting individuals to specific countries.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird criticized the ruling, reaffirming her support for the law and advocating for ongoing resistance.
“Iowa stood firm against the Biden-Harris border policies that have made every state a border state. Despite today’s court decision, our fight is far from over. While President Trump works nationwide to rectify the situation created by Biden and Harris at the southern border, we will continue our efforts in Iowa to uphold our laws and ensure public safety,” Bird stated in an email to The Epoch Times.
Supporters of the legislation argued that states should have the right to protect their interests when the federal government does not act decisively on immigration issues.
Critics contended that a fragmented approach with various state laws would undermine a cohesive national immigration policy and threaten the rights of individuals who may qualify for federal exemptions or relief.
By maintaining the injunction, the federal appeals court concluded that enforcing the Iowa law would likely disrupt the federal government’s immigration enforcement strategies and diplomatic priorities.
Under the decision from the Eighth Circuit, the district court’s preliminary injunction remains in effect while the litigation is ongoing, effectively barring Iowa officials from enforcing the law until the case is resolved, as per the ruling.
The U.S. Department of Justice did not provide a response in time for publication regarding the litigation to The Epoch Times.
Caden Pearson contributed to this article.
