Iowa was forewarned on Friday by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that if the state enacts an immigration law that prohibits individuals from entering the state if they have previously been denied admission into the United States, they will be sued.
The DOJ notified state Attorney General Brenna Bird and Governor Kim Reynolds, the two most powerful people in Iowa, that if the Hawkeye State implements SF 2340—a law that criminalizes entry into the state for anyone who has been deported or has been previously removed from the United States—it will file a lawsuit by May 7.
Reynolds stated that since it is her “duty” to safeguard Iowans, the legislation will be upheld.
“The only reason we had to pass this law is because the Biden Administration refuses to enforce the laws already on the books,” Reynolds stated in a Friday post on X . “I have a duty to protect the citizens of Iowa. Unlike the federal government, we will respect the rule of law and enforce it.”
The DOJ letter claimed Iowa’s statute violates both the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Constitution. It was originally made public by the Des Moines Register.
The DOJ letter, which was first made public by the Des Moines Register, claimed that Iowa’s legislation was unconstitutional and in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Brian Boynton, principal deputy assistant U.S. attorney general, stated in a letter that “SF 2340 is preempted by federal law and violates the United States Constitution.”
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A distinct state immigration plan is “effectively created,” according to Boynton’s letter, which “intrudes into a field that is occupied by the federal government and is preempted.”
Like Reynolds, Bird hinted that the state will proceed with the measure even in the face of the DOJ’s request.
“Not only has Biden refused to enforce federal immigration laws & secure our border, he is now threatening to block states like IA from enforcing our own laws,” Bird stated Friday on X.
“Our message to Biden is this: IA will not back down & stand by as our state’s safety hangs in the balance. If Biden refuses to stop the border invasion & keep our communities safe, IA will do the job for him.”
