DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa State Capitol has been busy, with Gov. Reynolds' signing close to 40 bills into law this week.
Leading the pack was a hefty immigration bill that criminalizes illegal reentry into Iowa under certain conditions and allow local law enforcement to arrest individuals who they have probable cause to believe are in the U.S. illegally, who have been previously denied admission to the state or who have been removed from the U.S. in the past.
Reynolds said her motivation for signing the bill was to help rectify President Joe Biden's "failed" enforcement of the nation's immigration laws. She argued a lack of enforcement puts Iowans at risk.
"This bill gives Iowa law enforcement the power to do what he is unwilling to do: enforce immigration laws already on the books," Reynolds said in a statement.
The law, which takes effect July 1, has heightened concerns in Iowa's immigrant communities and has prompted questions among legal experts and law enforcement.
Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert shared the following statement in an email before the law's signing.
"Local law enforcement lacks access to a database that allows us to confirm immigration status. Simply stated, not only do we not have the resources to assume this additional task, we don't even have the ability to perform this function .... I'm not interested, nor are we equipped, funded or staffed to take on additional responsibilities that historically have never been a function of local law enforcement."
Another bill earning the approval from Reynolds aims to categorize a false 911 call, also know as a swatting call, as a felony rather than a misdemeanor. The new law will allow law enforcement to utilize their resources only where it is deemed necessary.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety shared they've seen a "significant uptick" in falsely reported school shooting threats, bomb or other baseless impending threats. This law is also set to take affect July 1.
Reynolds also put pen to paper on a bill that will offer more options for maternal support programs for Iowa mothers, and another that would enforce penalties for anyone who points a laser at an aircraft.
Big or small, it was a busy legislative week. See a full list of the bills signed to law at this link.