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An Open Letter

To: Sen. Grassley, Rep. Nunn, Sen. Ernst

From: A constituent in Des Moines, IA

January 25

I am a constituent writing with serious concern about House File 2041 (HF 2041), a bill that would require all state and local law enforcement officers in Iowa to cooperate with ICE and federal immigration authorities, endangering Iowa citizens, children, and people exercising their constitutional rights. In January 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a federal immigration enforcement operation resulted in the fatal shooting of a man by federal officers, prompting widespread protest and highlighting the public-safety consequences when local actors are drawn into immigration enforcement. In 2024–2025 in multiple U.S. jurisdictions, cities paid civil-rights settlements after individuals were held on ICE detainers without judicial warrants, illustrating the predictable legal harms and due-process violations tied to mandatory cooperation. Across the country, immigrant communities have reported reluctance to call police after crimes out of fear of immigration enforcement consequences, directly undermining public safety. These actions raise serious Fourth Amendment concerns about warrantless holds and detentions, as well as due-process and equal-protection issues when local law enforcement is compelled to enforce federal immigration law. I am asking you to publicly state on the record that HF 2041 is dangerous, undermines community trust, and poses constitutional risks. I also ask you to oppose this bill in committee and on the House floor, and to block any effort to advance it toward passage. As drafted, HF 2041 removes local discretion, diverts law-enforcement resources from core public safety duties, and increases the risk of racial profiling and civil-rights litigation. Further injuries, wrongful detentions, or deaths resulting from this policy will be foreseeable and preventable, and the Iowa Legislature will share responsibility if it fails to act. I expect you to take these concrete steps within the next 30 days and publicly report your position to constituents. Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical public-safety and civil-rights matter.

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