While the national media focuses on immigration enforcement at the southern border as children are taken away from their parents, there’s an ongoing effort in Iowa to help immigrants deal with how Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are enforcing Trump administration policies.
Immigration
Posted inCommunity/News
Trump administration: Immigrants fleeing ‘private violence’ like domestic abuse shouldn’t be granted asylum
On Monday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Session took the extraordinary step of overturning a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) of the Justice Department that granted asylum to A.B., a Salvadorian woman who fled to the United States to escape from domestic violence. “Generally, claims by aliens pertaining to domestic violence or gang […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Vigil in Cedar Rapids on Monday evening to support families affected by the Mt. Pleasant ICE raid
There will be a vigil in Cedar Rapids in support of the families of the 32 workers who were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Wednesday. The vigil, which starts at 5 p.m., will be held in front of Sen. Chuck Grassley’s regional office 111 7th Ave SE.
Posted inCommunity/News
‘We need to decide what we want to be’: Yo Soy Iowa/I Am Iowa Rally in Des Moines Tuesday will focus on immigration
Immigration rights activists and people wanting to show support for Iowa’s immigrant community will gather at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines on Tuesday for the Yo Soy Iowa/I Am Iowa Rally. This is the second year for the May 1 rally at the capitol, but the issues remain the same. “At the national […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds signs so-called ‘sanctuary cities’ bill, which she said was aimed at ‘far-left liberals in Des Moines and Iowa City’
On Tuesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed SF 481, the so-called “sanctuary cities bill,” into law. Reynolds didn’t issue a statement, but two months ago, she hailed the bill as a way to “send a message to the far-left liberals in Des Moines and Iowa City.”
Posted inCommunity/News
Bill aimed at punishing Iowa City over immigration passes Iowa House
A bill that would strip so-called “sanctuary cities” of state funds was approved the Iowa House of Representatives on Tuesday, even though several Democrats speaking in opposition to the bill pointed out that no city in Iowa meets the U.S. Justice Department’s definition of a sanctuary city.
Posted inCommunity/News
‘A San Francisco right here in Iowa’: Iowa House committee approves bill to punish Iowa City over immigration
A bill that would strip so-called “sanctuary cities” of state funds passed the Iowa House Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, and will now receive a floor vote in the Iowa House of Representatives.
Posted inCommunity/News
En Español: ‘Fighting for a better future’ in Iowa
Orellana first learned of Iowa City through a friend from his adolescence in El Salvador. Before that, he had only seen the name “Iowa” on the state quarter, since he’s a coin collector.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Watch: Sudanese-American women in Iowa City explain Sudan fashion
“I feel like it’s important to represent myself, my culture or my identity.” Sudanese immigrants Mai Salih, Mazahir Salih, Hayat Osman and Entisar Jafar share and discuss Sudanese fashion, defined by comfort, color and modesty — from Mai’s sparkling $500 taub specially ordered for a wedding, to Mazahir’s simpler but cherished set of Sudanese garments. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Bill to punish cities for not fully enforcing federal immigration laws advances in state legislature
Supporters of the bill say it is aimed at forcing so-called “sanctuary cities” to comply with federal law, even though there are no sanctuary cities in Iowa. Some cities in the state, such as Iowa City, have decided not to have their police departments assist federal immigration officers in the performance of their duties, except in cases involving public safety.
Posted inCommunity/News
DACA stories: Two Iowa-raised brothers face uncertain futures
David looked nervous sitting at a table in the Main Library. It wasn’t being in the library that made him nervous — he’s spent a lot of time there as an undergraduate studying graphic design at the University of Iowa — it was discussing his immigration status. David is one of approximately 118,000 young people around the country waiting to find out if his application to be covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act (DACA) for the next two years is going to be approved.
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids ICE agents arrest woman and hold her without bail even though she has papers to be in the U.S.
Asucena Natareno Ramirez has been held without bail in an Iowa jail since Oct. 3, and her attorney still can’t get a satisfactory explanation for why she was arrested. Natareno Ramirez, a native of Guatemala who has been living with relatives in Mount Pleasant while her application for asylum is under consideration, was at the Cedar Rapids office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for a routine check-in when ICE agents arrested her. Her attorney Dan Vondra was informed by phone that the agents had an administrative arrest warrant that alleged she is present in the country “in violation of the law.”
