Iowa’s attorney general, Brenna Bird, has pledged to challenge the ruling.
A federal judge has temporarily halted Iowa from implementing a new law that criminalizes illegal immigrants who have been denied entry into the United States and mandates that state judges order their return to their home country. U.S. District Judge Stephen H. Locher ruled on May 17 that the law, known as Senate File 2340, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in April, is preempted by federal immigration law.
Judge Locher stated in his decision, “As a matter of politics, the new legislation might be defensible. As a matter of constitutional law, it is not.” This decision follows Ms. Reynolds’ intention to enforce the law despite the Department of Justice’s threat of a lawsuit to block it.
The Department of Justice and the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (Iowa MMJ) argued in separate lawsuits that the state law conflicted with federal immigration statutes and the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. Judge Locher ruled that Senate File 2340 is preempted in its entirety by federal law, making it invalid under the Supremacy Clause.
The new law in Iowa, Senate File 2340, established two new criminal offenses under state law. The first offense targeted “noncitizens” who entered or attempted to enter the state after being denied admission or deported from the U.S. The second offense focused on illegal immigrants who did not comply with state court orders to return to their home countries.
In response to the ruling, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who previously stated that Iowa would not back down, has vowed to appeal the decision. The DOJ argued that the Iowa law undermines the federal government’s authority over immigration matters and could impact foreign relations.
The Iowa MMJ raised concerns about the potential harm to illegal immigrants who could face state prosecution despite being lawful under federal law. They also noted broader disruptions to federal immigration policy and international relations. The group, which provides legal services to illegal immigrants, argued that the law would diminish their ability to assist noncitizens.
Judge Locher emphasized that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that the Iowa law interferes with established federal procedures. The provisions in the state law requiring Iowa state court judges to issue orders to send illegal immigrants to their home countries were deemed problematic by the judge.
The new Iowa law was scheduled to go into effect on July 1. Please rewrite the following sentence:
Original: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Rewritten: The fast brown fox leaps over the relaxed dog.
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