CEDAR RAPIDS — The Iowa National Guard is ready to "step up and help" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with logistics and processing at detention facilities, but no agreement has been finalized, Gov. Kim Reynolds said.
Reynolds, a Republican, told reporters in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Aug. 6, that she and other governors were on a call with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who asked for help from states as the federal government works to detain and deport immigrants who came to the country illegally.
"We have said that we would step up and help," Reynolds said. "Nothing has been finalized yet but we're, as other states are doing, looking into helping in some ways that we can."
Nationally, about 1,700 troops are being used to help ICE with clerical tasks at detention facilities, Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a July 25 news release. That includes "case management, transportation and logistical support, and clerical support" for processing people detained by ICE in and out of facilities.
Reynolds said she couldn't say how many Iowa soldiers could end up being involved in the mission or what their specific tasks would be.
"What we really looked at was logistics and processing is probably the way that we would look to help from a state perspective," she said. "But that’s subject to change, and I don't know the numbers at this point. I think they're still seeing how many states are doing it and what that'll look like."
The Iowa National Guard has yet to receive authorization for the mission, Iowa National Guard spokesperson Jackie Schmillen said in an email to the Des Moines Register.
Reynolds said she expects the federal government would cover the costs for any use of Iowa National Guard soldiers to assist ICE. She said she believes the federal government is focused on detaining and deporting the "bad actors."
"There’s just a lot of things that have to be worked out before we have any specifics on start time and what that looks like moving forward," she said.
Mason Mauro, a spokesperson for Reynolds, echoed her comments about Iowa's willingness to help ICE.
"The Iowa National Guard stands ready to support our DHS partners in executing the President's executive orders," he said in a statement.
Immigrant rights group criticizes Iowa officials for supporting ICE deportation efforts
One immigration rights group, Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, has criticized Reynolds' support for the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts and now the Iowa National Guard's potential participation in immigration enforcement.
"Using Iowa troopers against Iowa communities will not stand," organizer Alejandra Escobar said during a rally Tuesday, Aug. 5 in Cedar Rapids, when the Iowa City-based group accompanied five immigrant families to an ICE office.
The "protective action" was organized by Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, six weeks after 20-year-old Pascual Pedro, a Guatemalan immigrant who lived in West Liberty for seven years, was detained during a routine check-in with immigration officials. Pedro, who was in the country illegally but granted an "order of supervision" that allowed him to remain under strict conditions, was deported a few days later over the July 4 weekend.
Families accompanied by local organizers and about 100 others were not detained by ICE. Three separate individuals not part of the group's action were detained, Escucha Mi Voz later said in a news release following the event.
More: Community leaders, residents rally in Cedar Rapids as immigrants check in with ICE
The organization has called on legislators to help Pedro and Muscatine man Noel Lopez, who also was detained by ICE in June following an arrest that stemmed from a traffic stop. Lopez remains in the Muscatine County Jail.
Pedro's story recently caught Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' attention. The longtime independent senator now on a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour took to social media to show support for Pedro.
"Yes, we should deport people convicted of serious crimes," Sanders posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "But NO, we can't destroy families who have lived in this country peacefully.
"Pascual Pedro, a former high school soccer star with no criminal record, was suddenly deported at a routine immigration check-in. Unacceptable."
Iowa City Press-Citizen reporter Ryan Hansen contributed to this story.
F. Amanda Tugade covers community and faith for the Des Moines Register. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on X @writefelissa.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds says Iowa National Guard ready to 'step up and help' ICE
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