Iowa National Guard extends mission supporting ICE to September 2026

DES MOINES — The Iowa National Guard's mission supporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with administrative, clerical and logistical tasks has been extended to next fall.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds initially announced the mission in August after receiving a request from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She directed the Iowa National Guard to commence a federal mission Sept. 8 under Title 32 alongside ICE but under state control. The mission initially was authorized by the U.S. secretary of defense through Nov. 15.

The mission now is set to end Sept. 30, 2026, the end of the fiscal year, according to the Iowa National Guard.

“The original mission was scheduled through November 15, 2025, but has since been extended until September 30, 2026,” Iowa National Guard spokesperson Jackie Schmillen told the Quad-City Times in an emailed statement.

In August, Reynolds said the mission will “free up local ICE officials to continue their work outside the office to enforce the law and keep our state safe.”

“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 August.

The mission originally began with 20 service members but it’s now down to 16 individuals at the request of ICE, Schmillen said. That includes 14 soldiers and 2 airmen who are providing clerical, administrative and logistical support to Iowa-based ICE officials across the state. The mission does not include any law enforcement capabilities.

Schmillen said the service members are working Monday through Friday in support of ICE operations.

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

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Iowa LULAC leader expresses concern over mission

Iowa League of United Latin American Citizens President Joe Henry said the Iowa National Guard’s partnership with ICE has created fear in Iowa’s immigrant communities and added the impacts will filter down to local economies.

“Not only does this have an impact on the immigrant community and the Latino community, but also has an impact on local economics, with shops, construction, meatpacking, farming, workers who are afraid to go to work,” Henry said. “Even if they have legal status, afraid that they will be arrested.”

Henry added that LULAC and other immigrant advocacy organizations are working to inform communities of the partnerships and how to deal with them.

Other actions on immigration enforcement in Iowa

Aside from the Iowa National Guard mission supporting ICE, Reynolds has taken other actions to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts in the state.

In March, the Iowa Department of Public Safety signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE, which established 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 for violating federal immigration laws and issuing immigration detainers.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety did not respond to a request for comment on the current status of the task force.