DES MOINES, Iowa — On Friday, the Trump administration took steps to terminate lawsuits against Iowa and Oklahoma initiated by the Biden administration’s Department of Justice. These lawsuits disputed state immigration laws that criminalize anyone residing in the state illegally.
The creation of these laws was a response by Republican governors and lawmakers to their belief that then-President Joe Biden did not adequately enforce federal immigration laws or effectively manage the southern border.
Consequently, Iowa and Oklahoma introduced similar legislation that empowered state and local officials to detain and charge individuals with existing deportation orders or who have been previously expelled or denied entry to the United States. This legislative move mirrored a law enacted in Texas.
The Biden administration filed lawsuits against Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma over these laws. Texas’ law came into effect briefly last March before a federal appeals court intervened and suspended it.
The legislation in Iowa and Oklahoma has been suspended as well, pending court reviews to determine if they infringe upon federal immigration prerogatives.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticized the Biden administration’s challenge to Oklahoma’s law as unwarranted interference sparked by federal inadequacies in border security. Drummond’s criticism highlights a sentiment that state laws became essential due to federal inaction.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to intensify actions against illegal immigration and facilitate deportations for undocumented individuals, using executive orders early in his tenure that diverged from the preceding administration’s legal stance on these issues.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird heralded the Trump administration’s decision to dismiss the Biden-initiated lawsuits as a “major victory” for residents of Iowa, noting Trump’s continued support to prioritize state safety initiatives.
In addition to federal involvement, an immigrant rights organization filed a lawsuit against Iowa last May over the state law. A decision from the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals introduces complications in the legal landscape following the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the federal challenge.
The appellate court proposed that the lawsuit by the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice should be dismissed by the district judge, as the presence of a federal lawsuit rendered it moot. Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, with Rita Bettis Austen as its legal director, reaffirmed their ongoing efforts to prevent Iowa’s legislation from being implemented.
Efforts by Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice continue as they submitted a petition in February seeking a rehearing with the appellate court in light of current legal developments.