The following statement on SF 2340 can be attributed to Mark Stringer, ACLU of Iowa Executive Director:
"The Iowa Legislature has passed one of the most extreme, discriminatory, and unconstitutional anti-immigrant bills in the country, which is based on a Texas law that the courts have currently blocked. If Gov. Kim Reynolds signs this bill and it takes effect on July 1, it would allow police to arrest people based on their federal immigration status and authorize Iowa judges to order someone to be deported or jailed before they have an opportunity to seek humanitarian protection that they are entitled to.
"The Iowa law enforcement and state judges tasked with authority to carry out this outrageous legislation are not trained in immigration law and have no proper authority to enforce it. This legislation encourages and facilitates racial profiling and stereotyping. It undermines—not promotes—public safety and the rule of law. It will consume already strapped state court and law enforcement resources. If enacted, this law will wreak havoc in Iowa families and communities and threaten Iowans who are citizens and noncitizens alike."
