A federal appeals court on Friday ruled in favor of the Biden administration’s Department of Justice, upholding a temporary injunction against an Iowa law that criminalizes the presence of individuals in the state who are in the U.S. illegally.
However, a subsequent ruling from the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has introduced uncertainties regarding potential future legal actions, especially with Donald Trump now in the presidency.
The Department of Justice, along with a group advocating for immigrant rights, filed a lawsuit against Iowa in May, aiming to challenge the controversial law. This law bears resemblance to statutes in Texas and Oklahoma, which are also suspended while courts assess whether they improperly infringe upon federal immigration authority. A district court judge had previously granted a temporary injunction, prompting Iowa’s appeal to the federal court.
The Iowa law would empower state and local officials to arrest and prosecute individuals with outstanding deportation orders or those who have previously been removed or barred from entering the United States.
The federal appeals court articulated that Iowa’s belief in the validity of the law is unfounded, as it would likely conflict with federal officials’ discretion in managing immigration enforcement and could hinder U.S. foreign policy.
In a potentially complicating development, the appeals court also stated that a lawsuit initiated by the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice on behalf of its organization and two individuals should be dismissed since it has been rendered moot by the U.S. lawsuit against Iowa.
Veronica Fowler, communications director for the ACLU of Iowa, which is part of the legal team representing Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, mentioned, “Currently, we are determining our next legal steps, as our commitment remains to dismantle this harmful law.”
The Department of Justice did not provide immediate feedback regarding the lawsuit’s future status, which is set to continue at the lower court level.
Under President Biden’s administration, Republican governors and legislators nationwide have accused the president of not adequately enforcing federal immigration laws and managing the southern border. Many are now rallying behind Trump’s commitment to intensify measures against illegal immigration and deport individuals residing unlawfully in the U.S.
A joint statement released in December by 26 Republican governors, including Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, expressed their readiness to employ every available resource—via state law enforcement or the National Guard—to assist President Trump in this crucial effort.
Iowa’s Attorney General Brenna Bird declared in a statement Friday that the struggle against this law is far from over.
“As President Trump seeks to rectify the issues that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have created at the southern border, we will persist in our fight in Iowa to uphold our laws and ensure the safety of families,” Bird asserted.
