Why we filed a civil-rights complaint against ICE, Iowa DPS

In January Gov. Kim Reynolds instructed Iowa’s state law enforcement agencies to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. By March the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) signed an agreement to participate in a 287(g) Task Force Agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

I’m a member of Escucha Mi Voz, a 700-member immigrant led community organization. We knew this was bad news that would create big problems for all Iowans.

This 287(g) Task Force Agreement essentially authorizes the State Patrol to enforce immigration law during routine policing. This Task Force model was recently revived by the Trump administration after it was discontinued nationwide in 2011. It ended following extensive documentation by the Migration Policy Institute and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, among others, that revealed these agreements undermine public safety, allow racial profiling, unconstitutional stops, searches and seizures and other civil rights violations.

Since Iowa's ICE Task Force deputizes state troopers to enforce immigration laws, routine traffic stops can now turn into dragnets that target workers and tramples civil rights.

Just like the prolonged traffic stop of seven of our Latino construction workers on their way home from work on April 18. What should have been a brief stop turned into a near hour long ordeal- a prolonged, intimidating encounter that went far beyond a traffic ticket. The trooper collected IDs from passengers who weren’t even driving, questioned them about their immigration status, and held them without explanation before their ultimate release.

We believe this is likely happening in other parts of Iowa without public awareness because these incidents are occurring nationwide. In Tennessee and Florida, law enforcement agencies empowered by 287(g) agreements have begun setting up these dragnets that have resulted in hundreds of unnecessary detentions of essential workers who pose no public safety threat.

For us, it comes down to this. Iowa law enforcement officers should not be ICE agents. Some local law enforcement officials agree. In February, the Winneshiek County Sheriff expressed concerns with increased involvement with ICE. Recently, the Dubuque County Sheriff declined involvement with the controversial ICE 2879(g) program. Both elected public safety officials faced threats and intimidation by state and federal authorities for their principled stands for public safety.

This is why we have filed a formal complaint with the DPS and continue to organize and agitate for a response. Making state law enforcement officers ICE agents makes Iowa less safe and spreads suspicion and distrust in our communities.

Iowa immigrants are our families, neighbors, and friends. They are essential workers who work to make Iowa a better place to live. We should do all we can to support them- not deport them. Join us as we call on the DPS and Reynolds to disband the ICE Task Force once and for all. This ICE 287(g) agreement must end now!

Tom Mohan lives in Cedar Rapids, is a member of Escucha Mi Voz and its sister organization, the Iowa City Catholic Worker House.