Recently, Iowa GOP Governor Kim Reynolds issued a directive to state public safety and corrections officials, instructing them to fully collaborate with federal immigration authorities. This decision comes shortly before President-elect Donald Trump's anticipated second term inauguration.
In the memo addressed to the leaders of the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Department of Corrections, Governor Reynolds mandated that state agencies must provide assistance in administrative or criminal investigations, report suspected immigration law violations to federal authorities, comply with detainer requests from the Department of Homeland Security, and facilitate custody transfers to immigration authorities.
According to Reynolds, the purpose of this order is to enhance public safety by ensuring Iowa's readiness for the implementation of federal policies concerning illegal immigration. This move is in line with the expected strict immigration stance of the incoming Trump administration, which has vowed to deport undocumented individuals residing in the country.
Reports indicate that Trump's team is finalizing a series of immigration executive orders that are set to be unveiled shortly after the president-elect's inauguration. These orders are anticipated to initiate an immigration crackdown, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in major cities, increased deployment of Pentagon resources to the US southern border, stricter entry eligibility criteria, and the reversal of Biden-era immigration policies.
