Reynolds says Iowa National Guard will provide administrative, logistical support to ICE

DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday that 20 members of the Iowa National Guard will provide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in the state with administrative and logistical support after receiving a request from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Reynolds directed the Iowa National Guard to commence a federal mission Sept. 8 under Title 32 alongside ICE and under state control, according to her office. The authorization is approved by the U.S. Secretary of Defense through Nov. 15.

Last week, Reynolds told reporters in Cedar Rapids that Iowa National Guard troops stood ready to assist ICE with administrative and clerical duties related to the detention and deportation of migrants in their custody.

“Just as we supported Texas when the Biden Administration left them to defend the border, Iowa will continue to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws — this time, by working with the Trump Administration to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in our state,” Reynolds said in a statement Tuesday. “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.”

The Iowa National Guard said it is working on the memorandum with Reynolds’ office to establish specific details about what its soldiers will be doing, but it confirmed they will be providing ICE with clerical, logistical and administrative support.

Guard officials added that the majority of soldiers’ involvement will be with transportation and data entry, and the Iowa National Guard will not be performing any law enforcement functions.

The cost of the mission will be covered by federal funding. The Iowa National Guard was activated under the same status during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Iowa troops previously deployed to Texas to help with border security

States can authorize the National Guard to assist with law enforcement within their borders and, when activated under federal authority, the National Guard can be used to support civilian law enforcement, through equipment, training and intelligence. However, the National Guard is generally prohibited from directly participating in law enforcement activities like arrests or searches.

Republican governors, including Reynolds, have previously deployed National Guard troops to Texas to assist authorities there with security along the border with Mexico.

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In March, the Iowa Department of Public Safety signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE to establish a task force of three special agents from the Iowa State Patrol who are given authority to perform some immigration-related law enforcement activities in the state, including arresting individuals in violation of federal immigration laws and issuing immigration detainers.

Potential targets of enforcement should ‘have safety plans in place’

Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice communication specialist Elena Casillas-Hoffman said Reynolds’ announcement “comes as no surprise to immigrants and their allies in Iowa,” and the nonprofit is urging everyone in Iowa to prepare for the ICE partnership by understanding their constitutional rights.

“Individuals who may be targets of immigration enforcement activity should know their rights and have safety plans in place,” Casillas-Hoffman said in a statement. “Allies and communities should be taking steps to defend each other and calling on elected officials on all levels to 'just say no' to ICE.”

Gazette Deputy Des Moines Bureau Chief Tom Barton contributed to this report.