The Biden administration has initiated legal action against Iowa’s recent anti-illegal immigration law, citing constitutional concerns over state interference with federal immigration authority.
The Biden administration has filed a lawsuit to block an Iowa law aimed at arresting and prosecuting individuals who have illegally entered the United States after being previously denied admission or deported. The lawsuit was filed in a Des Moines court on May 9 by the Department of Justice (DOJ), challenging Senate File 2340 under the U.S. Constitution, which reserves the regulation of immigration and border-related matters to the federal government.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton stated, “Iowa cannot disregard the U.S. Constitution and settled Supreme Court precedent. We have brought this action to ensure that Iowa adheres to the framework adopted by Congress and the Constitution for the regulation of immigration.”
The contested Iowa law, signed by Governor Kim Reynolds on April 10, criminalizes the presence in Iowa of individuals with outstanding deportation orders, or those who had previously been denied admission or deported from the United States. Governor Reynolds defended the law, arguing it was necessary due to the Biden administration’s alleged failure to enforce federal immigration laws.
In response to the DOJ’s lawsuit, Reynolds expressed her readiness to defend the legislation in court, stating, “As Governor, I have a responsibility to protect the citizens of Iowa. Since President Biden refuses to enforce our nation’s immigration laws—threatening the safety of our citizens—Iowa will step in.”
The Justice Department bolstered its legal challenge by citing a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. United States, which ruled against Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070. This law had similar provisions allowing the detention of suspected illegal immigrants and required police to check the immigration status of detainees before their release. The Supreme Court determined that immigration enforcement is preemptively governed by federal law, which overrides state legislation in this field.
Additionally, the Biden administration recently undertook a similar legal action against Texas for its decision to install razor wire barriers as a border security measure. A Supreme Court ruling allowed federal agents to remove these barriers, emphasizing that immigration law enforcement remains a federal responsibility.
Civil rights organizations, including the American Immigration Council and the American Civil Liberties Union, have also filed a lawsuit challenging Iowa’s law, asserting that it infringes on federally protected legal standards for immigration.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has vowed to defend the law, criticizing the federal government’s immigration enforcement and affirming, “Iowa’s law is not unique; it simply enforces immigration laws while Biden refuses to,” indicating a significant legal battle ahead as Iowa prepares to defend its stance on immigration.
