DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed an immigration enforcement bill that bans so-called sanctuary cities.
The Republican governor signed the bill privately on Tuesday. The news was tucked into a press release about 16 other bill signings.
The new law will require law enforcement to follow requests from federal agents to hold a jailed person suspected of being in the country illegally. Local governments risk losing state funding if they don’t comply with the law.
Attorneys say the provision could open the state to litigation. Community organizers argue the bill will lead to racial profiling.
Lawmakers who supported the measure called it a public safety issue. Reynolds highlighted the legislation in a gubernatorial fundraising email.
Sanctuary cities is a catch-all label for jurisdictions that limit local involvement in federal immigration enforcement. Iowa doesn’t have any sanctuary cities.
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