A federal judge ruled Iowa’s new law giving its state law enforcement and judicial officials power to enforce federal immigration regulations is illegal, NBC News reports, saying that the law oversteps the state’s authority. “As a matter of politics, the new legislation might be defensible,” U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher, a Biden appointee, wrote in his decision, “As a matter of constitutional law, it is not.”
The law is similar to one that Texas enacted in that it allows local officials to file charges against migrants who have outstanding deportation orders, had been previously denied entry, or had been removed from the country under an immigration order. To avoid prosecution, the detainee would be allowed to “self deport” and leave the country.
“I am disappointed in today’s court decision that blocks Iowa from stopping illegal reentry and keeping our communities safe,” Iowa Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird said, apparently referring to “illegal reentry” from Missouri. “Since Biden refuses to secure our borders, he has left states with no choice but to do the job for him.”