The article argues that Iowa should not engage its state police and National Guard in President-elect Donald Trump’s plan for mass deportations. It critiques the statement signed by Governor Kim Reynolds and 25 other Republican governors, which pledges support for deporting illegal immigrants deemed a threat to communities and national security.
The article highlights the ambiguity of this statement, pointing out that deporting criminals instead of incarcerating them would not necessarily enhance public safety.
Additionally, the article expresses concern about the false implication that illegal immigration is inherently tied to crime, noting that statistics show U.S. citizens are more likely to commit crimes. It references the cautious stance of other governors, like Nevada’s, and raises legal and practical challenges related to involving state officers in federal immigration enforcement.
The piece warns that such efforts would exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and raise significant legal issues concerning the role of National Guard personnel in domestic law enforcement.
Ultimately, the article advocates for reserving the National Guard for disaster relief and suggests that Iowa police should not take on federal responsibilities, leaving immigration enforcement solely to federal agents.
It concludes by stressing that the involvement of state officers would complicate an already flawed process and that the stated limits on deportation targets might not hold under broader federal direction.