The law is set to go into effect July 1.
Kim Renyolds, governor of Iowa, center, during a news conference in Mission, Texas, Oct. 6, 2021. Texas Governor Abbott and Republican state chief executives from around the nation gathered at the border to again call attention to unauthorized immigration across the Rio Grande.The Department of Justice and civil rights groups filed two separate lawsuits on Thursday aiming to block a controversial immigration law -- known as SF 2340 -- from going into effect in Iowa.
The state lawmakers passed the law last month and Gov. Kim Reynolds signed it, it's scheduled to go into effect on July 1. In the lawsuit, lawyers for the group said the law does not create exceptions for people who have previously been deported or denied admission, but who were later given authorization to be in the country. The groups said this means even people who have been granted asylum, are part of a protected class, or have green cards could be arrested and imprisoned.
Others could be charged with a Class C felony and face up to 10 years in prison if they were previously removed due to a felony conviction. All convicted people would face a removal order although some would get the opportunity to opt for removal instead of further prosecution.
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