Governor Kim Reynolds says the Arizona law the U.S. Supreme Court ruled was unconstitutional back in 2012 is different from Iowa’s immigration law and that’s why she’s optimistic a higher court will allow it to go into effect.
“We are basically enforcing the United States immigration laws that are on the books,” Reynolds said during a visit to Mount Pleasant yesterday
Reynolds said Arizona tried to create new regulations, like making it a state crime if immigrants stopped by Arizona law enforcement did not have a government-issued ID or immigration papers. “(Arizona) had actually superseded the existing U.S. immigration laws that are on the books,” Reynolds said. “…But Iowa didn’t in the law that we passed.”
Early this week, a federal judge ruled that the federal government has sole authority to enforce immigration law and he issued a temporary injunction blocking the sate law from taking effect July 1. Iowa’s law would let police charge immigrants with a state crime if they’re been deported or were denied entry into the country.
“It’s horrible when we have a president of the United States that’s not doing his constitutional duty to protect the United States citizens and, most importantly, the sovereignty of this country,” Reynolds said. “…And so if I have a president that won’t do his duty, then you bet, the states and the governors are going to step up.”
Civil rights groups that are suing say the Iowa law is unconstitutional and could lead to deporting Iowans who’ve been granted asylum or legal residency after they were previously deported.
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