A federal judge in Iowa on Monday halted the state’s efforts to enforce its own immigration laws.
Iowa law would allow the state to bring criminal charges against illegal immigrants who have outstanding deportation orders or have been previously denied entry into the U.S.
U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher’s block on execution is only temporary while further litigation is underway over the Iowa legislation. Locher said he believes the law will fail, though, because federal immigration laws supersede state immigration laws.
“From a political perspective, the new legislation may be defensible. But from a constitutional perspective, it is not,” Loch’s ruling read. “Under binding Supreme Court precedent, Senate File 2340 is entirely preempted by federal law and therefore invalid under the Supremacy Clause.”
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A federal judge in Iowa on Monday halted the state’s efforts to enforce its own immigration laws. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)
Republican Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed the “illegal reentry” bill into law earlier this year. It follows similar legislation in Texas. Officials in both states have sharply criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of border policy.
Reynolds and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Byrd said the state planned to appeal the ruling.
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“If Biden hadn’t opened the borders, Iowa would never have passed this law,” Byrd said in a statement after the ruling. “Instead of suing Iowa to enforce immigration laws, he should be enforcing them.” Responsibility for border security.”
Republican Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed the “illegal reentry” bill into law earlier this year. It follows similar legislation in Texas. Officials in both states have sharply criticized President Joe Biden’s administration for its handling of border policy. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Reynolds, meanwhile, believes the Biden administration has left states “defenseless” against “the ongoing crisis at our southern border.”
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“Clearly, the Biden administration is failing in its duty to enforce federal immigration laws and allow millions of people to enter and re-enter without consequences or delays,” she added.
U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher ruled that Iowa’s immigration law was blocked because of a 2015 Supreme Court ruling. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin, File)
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Iowa’s law will take effect July 1.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
