In a significant development, a federal judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa temporarily blocked the enforcement of Iowa's Senate File 2340 on June 17, 2024. The law, which was set to take effect on July 1, would have allowed state law enforcement to file criminal charges against individuals with outstanding deportation orders or who had previously been denied entry to or removed from the United States (US).
The Justice Department and civil rights groups filed a lawsuit against Iowa arguing that federal immigration law preempted the state's legislation. In his decision, Judge Stephen Locher agreed, stating that as a matter of constitutional law, the Iowa law was not defensible. The judge granted a preliminary injunction to stop enforcement of the law pending further proceedings.
The Iowa legislature and Governor Kim Reynolds enacted Senate File 2340 in response to their belief that the Biden administration was not effectively controlling immigration along the southern border. The law would have enabled state courts to order noncitizens to return to their foreign countries if they had certain immigration-related offenses. However, opponents argued that it violated federal supremacy and could lead to confusion and potential harm for both lawful immigrants and those seeking asylum.
The Iowa Attorney General, Brenna Bird, expressed disappointment in the court's decision and vowed to appeal. She stated that since Biden refused to secure the borders, states were left with no choice but to do the job for him. Reynolds also issued a statement criticizing Biden and expressing frustration at the ruling.
The Iowa law is similar but less expansive than Texas's law, which was in effect for only a few hours before being put on hold by a federal appeals court in March 2024. The Justice Department has also announced its intention to seek to stop a similar law in Oklahoma.
This ruling marks another instance of the ongoing debate between states and the federal government regarding immigration enforcement. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
