A total of 20 Iowa National Guard soldiers will provide “administrative and logistical support” to Iowa-based ICE officials starting Sept. 8.
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa National Guard will begin assisting federal agents with immigration enforcement next month, Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a press release Tuesday morning.
A total of 20 Iowa National Guard soldiers will provide “administrative and logistical support” to Iowa-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials starting Sept. 8.
The Iowa National Guard is authorized to provide this aid through Nov. 15.
“By providing administrative and logistical support, the Iowa National Guard will free up local ICE officials to continue their work outside the office to enforce the law and keep our state safe,” Reynolds said in a statement.
The announcement comes just days after Reynolds’ office told Local 5 the state would be “ready to assist” in enforcing immigration law.
Local 5 spoke with immigration activist Vielka Rivera Wambold on what effects she sees this potential collaboration having on the migrant and Latino community.
“It puts fear and anger, puts fear and anger and kind of not knowing what the next day is going to bring. And so you have those people now, kind of, it’s affected their lives,” she told Local 5 News.