Meeting Public Comments

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

02-18-2025

Angie Kendall [Hand in Hand]

As you consider this important legislation, I urge you to ensure it strengthensrather than destabilizesIowas fragile childcare system. Moving early care and education dollars to schools could unintentionally reverse the progress weve made as a state. With Iowa ranking second in the nation for parents working outside the home, childcare remains a nonpartisan issue that directly impacts our workforce and economycosting Iowa $934 million annually due to childcare challenges.Childcare centers rely on 3 and 4yearolds to offset the high costs of infant and toddler care, which are typically loss leaders. Without careful planning, shifting 4yearolds to schoolbased programs could lead to center closures, reducing already limited care options for working families.To avoid this, we strongly urge a collaborative model that includes both schools and communitybased organizations. This approach: Preserves vital infant/toddler care and wraparound services. Stabilizes the childcare sector while expanding PreK access. Provides flexibility for communities to design solutions that work for them.We recommend adding guardrails to ensure:Dedicated funding streams specifically allocated for childcare centers.Partnership agreements between schools and private centers.Stakeholder involvement, such as a grant review and implementation committee with representation from childcare centers, schools, parents, and ECE professionals.We must also ensure the legislature provides an appropriate administrative ratethe current proposals 5% is well below the federal de minimis of 15%.We can use this time to learn from other communities, who have often found that schools lack the practical details and support for quality care and education that is essential for these early years. Expertise and facilities the childcare industry already has.

02-19-2025

Tim Moothart [Presentation Lantern Center]

As a person working daily with immigrants of various legal status I know that HSB 187 MUST NOT BE ACCEPTED. It would force local police to act as ICE agents under 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement to detain and begin deportation proceedings against immigrants as if they were federal immigration officers. These agreements undermine public safety, erode trust, encourage racial profiling, and divert resources from real community protection.As a person of faith and conscience, I believe in the dignity of every person, welcoming the stranger, and standing with the vulnerable. This bill contradicts these values, threatening to separate families, harm communities, and make Iowa less safe.The people I represent and I will not stand for this injustice.Tim Moothart, Past President Presentation Lantern Center Board of Trustees

02-19-2025

Tom Chapman [Iowa Catholic Conference]

The Iowa Catholic Conference is registered in opposition to HSB 187, which requires all local law enforcement agencies to sign written agreements with ICE. First, Catholic social teaching recognizes a countrys right and responsibility to manage its borders. We support the right of local governments to exercise reasonable and appropriate discretion in the handling of immigrant detainees, consistent with the need to maintain public safety, but we do not believe that an escalation of immigrant detention and intensive use of local enforcement in communities is the way to achieve compassionate and merciful reform of our immigration system.HSB 187 is unnecessary and redundant. In 2018, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed a law that requires every law enforcement agency in the state that has custody of a person subject to an immigration detainer request issued by United States immigration and customs enforcement to fully comply with any instruction made in the detainer request and in any other legal document. The law also already says that a local entity shall not adopt or enforce a policy or take any other action under which the local entity prohibits or discourages the enforcement of immigration laws. (Code Chapter 27A)Local officials have little training in interpreting federal immigration law. They also rely on limited local dollars to do federal immigration work that police are not normally required to perform. HSB 187 does not provide for any funding for training local law enforcement. We are concerned that this bill would erode the trust that many law enforcement officers/agencies have worked hard to build in communities with many immigrants who are living in peace.Thank you for your consideration.

02-20-2025

James Burke [Concerned Citizen]

House Study Bill 187 SHOULD NOT PROCEED based on the following:Utilizing local law enforcement for immigration enforcement purposes has proven to result in racial profiling and the unequal application of laws.Requiring county sheriffs and municipal police departments to enforce immigration policy would necessarily compromise their ability to perform the duties they were hired to do.Iowa law enforcement officers do not have the training sufficient to enforce immigration law.The Constitution of the United States and subsequent court decisions make it clear that the state of Iowa does not have the right to assume duties that are the responsibility of the federal government.Requiring local tax bases to pay for immigration enforcement is not the best use of those resources nor what local taxpayers want.PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF BILL 187.

02-20-2025

Mary Beth Neal

I urge you NOT to support this bill. We want our law enforcement to focus efforts on public safety and do not want to divert their attention and resources away from that. This bill would essentially defund our police force, as it is an unfunded mandate. I worry too about my friends in law enforcement who are not trained in homeland security or Immigration Customs and Enforcement. Our local law enforcement has been focused on building community relationships, especially within the last few years. This mandate would put them in challenging positions and ruin the work they have gained within communities. It would lower public trust in law enforcement, destroy the traction they have made, and ultimately make our communities less safe.We can probably all agree that our immigration system is broken. Lets combine efforts to fix that at a national level, looking at the path immigrants must take to enter our country.We must also acknowledge that immigrants are essential to our workforce. We cannot do without them. While gaining better control at our borders, lets work on legalizing those who are already here and are a crucial part of our communities and economy. These people are not criminals; they are our neighbors and our friends.This bill is a waste of local resources, destroys community relationships, and ultimately would lead to racial profiling and more divisiveness. We need to start working together, not against one another. We need to stop HSB 187.

02-20-2025

Liz O'Hara [Concerned Citizen]

HSB 187 is a bad bill, an unfunded mandate to turn local law enforcement personnel into ICE agents. The potential to undermine the trust of communities in local police is substantial, which can decrease effectiveness in addressing crime, especially if inadequately trained police officers are seen as engaging racial profiling. Please leave immigration enforcement where it belongs, at the federal level.

02-20-2025

Deb Schoelerman [citizen]

I urge you to reject HSB 187. This bill is based on unfounded fear of immigrants. The immigrant families I work with and support are working hard to provide for their families. It is not the job of the local police to enforce immigration laws. Forcing local police to act as ICE agents would undermine the publics trust in the police and would undermine public safety. Our community of immigrants, whether they are documented or not, would not be able to trust the police. This bill would separate families, harm communities, and make Iowa less safe.

02-20-2025

Michael Roberts

I OPPOSE HSB187. Requiring local law enforcement to act as immigration enforcement is an unfunded mandate on law enforcement agencies, that will jeopardize community safety and reduce trust in law enforcement. Victims of or witness to crimes that are not US citizens will be afraid to call law enforcement because they fear unjust detainment. This bill provides no additional funding to law enforcement agencies while increasing their duties. This legislation is bad for community safety. Please do not advance this bill out of subcommittee.

02-20-2025

Will Denny

This bill must not proceed. This bill represents a clear invitation for overreach of federal government. Even if you support the current administration, a bill like this can and will be used against all of us in time.First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak outBecause I was not a socialist.Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak outBecause I was not a trade unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak outBecause I was not a Jew.Then they came for meand there was no one left to speak for me.Drop the bill.

02-20-2025

Andrea Achenbach [Concerned citizen]

I strongly oppose the 287(g) program due to its harmful impact on our communities. Rather than enhancing public safety, this program discourages crime reporting, making everyone less safe. When immigrant communities fear that any interaction with law enforcement could lead to deportation, they are less likely to report crimes, serve as witnesses, or seek help when needed. This creates an environment where criminals can operate with impunity, endangering all residents.Additionally, the program opens the door to racial profiling, encouraging discrimination based on appearance and language rather than actual criminal activity. No one should be treated differently under the law simply because of their appearance or speech. This bill undermines trust between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect, making policing less effective.The consequences of 287(g) also extend beyond individualsdevasting families and communities. Parents are torn away from their children, breadwinners are removed from households, and entire neighborhoods suffer the emotional and economic toll. The trauma caused by these separations is longlasting and deeply damaging.Furthermore, this program wastes valuable resources that could be better spent on community safety initiatives. Local law enforcement should be focused on solving crimes, preventing violence, and building strong relationships with residentsnot acting as federal immigration agents. Diverting funding toward immigration enforcement takes away from programs that truly make our communities safer, such as mental health services, antiviolence initiatives, and community policing efforts.Finally, we must consider the moral and ethical implications. As a society, we uphold values of dignity, justice, and compassion. Policies that target and tear apart hardworking families contradict these principles and do not reflect the kind of community we should strive to build. We have a responsibility to stand up for policies that protect all residents, regardless of immigration status, and reject those that foster fear and division.For these reasons, I urge you to oppose the 287(g) program and work toward policies that promote safety, fairness, and unity in our communities.

02-20-2025

Emily Sinnwell [Iowa City Catholic Worke]

First and foremost, I believe that unfunded mandates that require local police to enforce immigration law undermine public safety. These 287(g) agreements create fear and mistrust, making immigrants hesitant to report crimes or cooperate with law enforcement, which ultimately endangers everyone in the community.Moreover, this bill fosters racial profiling, encouraging discrimination based on appearance or language. This is not only unjust but also divides our communities, creating an environment of fear and hostility.The human cost is devastating. This bill will lead to family separations, tearing apart the very fabric of our neighborhoods. Families will be torn apart, and entire communities will be left broken.Additionally, this bill is a waste of precious local resources. It will divert funding from real community safety initiativesefforts that could truly protect and uplift us all. We need those resources to support programs that improve our public safety, not enforce unjust immigration policies.As a person of faith, I cannot support a bill that goes against the core values of dignity, justice, and the moral obligation to welcome the stranger. We must stand together in the face of such injustice.I urge our legislators to stop this harmful bill. It serves no ones best interests and only creates more division, fear, and suffering. Let us protect and uplift all members of our community, regardless of their immigration status."

02-20-2025

Alexis Otiego

Public safety: 287(g) agreements discourage crime reporting, making communities less safe.Racial profiling: This bill encourages discrimination based on appearance and language.Family separation: It will devastate families and communities.Waste of resources: It diverts funding from real community safety initiatives.Faith & moral obligation: It contradicts values of dignity, justice, and welcoming the stranger.All in all, this bill reinstitutionalizes racism and supports division in our communities instead of fostering connection. This will further harm the state of Iowa and continue our regression into the 1800s.

02-20-2025

Bill McCoy

I urge you to categorically reject this bill and any other s that twist the arms of local law enforcement in order to get them to do the federal government's dirty work for them. The immigrants among us are my brothers and sisters and moreover they are lawabiding,hardworking, taxpaying individuals who simply wish to live and work among us with friends and family.

02-20-2025

Tonya Adams [Concerned citizen ]

I oppose House Study Bill 187. This will make us less safer, discouraging crime reporting and making the environment scary. This encourages racial profiling and takes us backwards in social justice advancement. This will separate families and have a negative impact on our communities. This is a waste of public resources that could be better used to improve the lives of citizens. Most importantly, this goes against the values of human dignity, our welcome culture to immigrants and all people, and the principle of justice.

02-20-2025

Father Guillermo Trevino [St. Joseph’s Catholic Church]

As pastor of St. Josephs in West Liberty and St. Josephs Columbus Junction, I see the wonderful things, the immigrant community brings to both towns. Without them. I would probably be out of a job and our communities would lose essential workers who kept this country going. Schools would lose students and many school districts would suffer with enrollment issues. The local and state police do a lot for the community and dont need to do the federalgovernments job in immigration. By forcing local and state police to do the federal governments work, many officers would face personal and ethicalissues that they dont need to face. In Iowa, we take care of our own, that includes all who live here. The officers dont need any more daunting tasks so I encourage you, my elected officials to not support this bill.

02-20-2025

David Henkhaus [Iowa Citizen]

Please vote "No" on HSB 187.This legislation, if enacted, will likely increase crime and suffering in Iowa. Even today, people on the margins of society are afraid to involve authorities (police, EMT, social services) for fear of overreach and intrusion into their lives. Adding this responsibility to local LEOs will only add one more reason for crimes to be underreported.And, this legislation is mostly redundant. Once in custody, suspects' residency status can be verified.We have finite law enforcement resources. Let's keep them focused on apprehending criminals who are making Iowa unsafe.

02-20-2025

Corinne Stanley

Local law officials are just that: elected and appointed locally. They do not and should not qualify as strong arms for the ICE agency. It is an abuse of your representative power to even form a bill as such, let alone pass it. Do you think the DEI can't do their job?Are you even concerned about the families of immigrants who are in relationships with local authorities and will be driven into more flight and fear? We expect our legislatures to have respect for our people, the people we work with, the people who contribute to our communities. It is not your job to make enemies of the people because you are white, and afraid.Corinne Stanley

02-20-2025

Erica Finken

I OPPOSE HS 187. 287(g) agreements discourage crime reporting, making communities less safe.This bill encourages racial profiling and discrimination based on appearance and language.It also will devastate families and communities.Waste of resources: It diverts funding from real community safety initiatives there is no additional funding provided to law enforcement for this additional work.

02-20-2025

Sherri Erkel [Iowa City Catholic Worker]

Our communities are stronger when we protect one another and make decisions based on respecting the dignity of all. This bill is based on fear and will only serve to divide our communities. This bill will devastate families and communities.Iowans are smarter and more compassionate than this!

02-20-2025

Rita Carter

As a person of faith and a citizen of Iowa, I strongly oppose advancing this bill. It not only threatens the immigrant and refugee families and their communities, but it also requires local law enforcement to do a job they did not sign up for. Profiling will certainly increase in police stops and any positive relationships will be destroyed between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Do not advance HSB 187!

02-20-2025

Amy Luebbert

This is a misuse of law enforcement since being undocumented in the US is a civil offense not criminal offense. This bill threatens to separate families, harm our communities, and make Iowa less safe. Iowa has a long history of welcoming refugees and immigrants, we can and should do better by folks.

02-20-2025

Maeleen Thorius [Catholic Worker House]

I am writing to express my opposition to House Study Bill 187. This is above all an antiimmigrant bill. It will discourage true crime reporting, waste valuable resources and lead to more intense racial profiling. These are side effects of a bill separating families and leading to emotional distress for all including innocent children and overwhelmed parents. Contrary to the popular political lingo about immigrants and gangs and cartels, many of our immigrants are true refugees fleeing hunger, crime, brutal dictatorships. Let us not forget the values of this country. We are a people who welcome the immigrant within a set of laws already established. We treat people with respect and dignity. Let Iowa be a state that does not fall victim to a police state hunting down and harassing innocent people.Thank you.

02-20-2025

Rebecca Yeager

Dear Subcommittee on HSB 187,It seems unwise to force police officers to act as local ICE officials if we want to encourage community members to report crimes. Police officers should be viewed as agents who act in the interests of public safety, and victims of violence should be able to seek assistance from the police even if they or their family members have expired immigration paperwork, etc. I am thinking in particular of women and children who may be especially vulnerable to attacks from others if they are unable to access public services for fear of being deported or for fear that they may incidentally expose a beloved family member to deportation if police enter their home (even if the victim themselves is a legal resident or citizen). This law puts innocent people at risk and makes it more difficult for police officers to do their job to prevent and address violent crime. I truly hope this bill does not go through.Thank you for allowing me to share this concern.grace,Rebecca Yeager

02-20-2025

Kimberly Dukes [citizen]

As a concerned citizen, I urge you to vote against the bill HSB 187. Law enforcement should remain separate from immigration enforcement. Law enforcement officers have enough to do, and an important part of their work to keep communities safe involves developing and sustaining trust with and among our communitiesHSB 187 would actively work against that vital need. In addition, please remember the values of our country overall, the motto inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty, the contributions of immigrants to our country today and over centuries, and most importantly the value of recognizing and respecting the rights of all humans in our world. In my opinion, these should be the values of Iowa and of the United States.

02-20-2025

Elizabeth Estling

I oppose this bill. I am concerned that this will make Iowa less safe. The police already have SO MUCH to do and this will take them away from community work. I also think that relationships of trust in the community that police have taken huge efforts to create will crumble. People won't report crimes because they will be worried about being deported or if someone they know could be deported. Victims of crimes will be unsafe reporting crimes to the police so they just won't report things. The police are here to keep our community safe and if they are not seen as trusted enforcement, none of us are safe.

02-20-2025

Hayley Rauzi

As someone who has worked with the immigrant and refugee population in Iowa for over 10 years, I urge all to reject HSB 187, which would effectively turn local law enforcement officials into ICE agents. Many immigrants come from places where law enforcement cannot be trusted or turned to, and thus fear local law enforcement officials here. This may lead to lack of reporting of serious crimes they have experienced. We want local law enforcement to be a resource to these individuals, but this bill would turn them into people to be feared. Local immigrants and refugees contribute so much to the culture and economy of the places they settle, we want to work on welcoming, not criminalizing.

02-20-2025

Tom Mohan [Escucha Mi Voz]

My name is Tom Mohan. I grew up in Sioux City. I now live in Cedar Rapids.I'm a retired public employee. For 35 yrs Ive worked with youth and families in need of community services.These experiences strengthened my understanding that all families are sacred. We should be working to support all our families not deport them.That aint right!Im pretty sure most of us feel that we all deserve safe, secure, and supportive communities to build our hopes and dreams. But now our neighbors, families and friends are being punished and persecuted by politicians like some of you here today with threats of deportation by turning local law enforcement into ICE agents that makes them a part of the paramilitary force that will tear our towns apart.Lets be clear: This bill and these agreements undermine public safety, erodes trust in local law enforcement, encourages racial profiling and diverts resources from real community resources to protect our communities.This legislation sacrifices our community safety and common good for your personal power desires and the partisan political favor of Gov. Reynolds and President Trump.Rep. Holt,thats despicable! Rep.Wheeler, that's shameful!So, Im here this am to denounce this bill, to stand in support of my friends and neighbors in need and to keep our families whole, help our communities thrive and make Iowa a place where liberty and justice is for all of us,not just you and your crew, but eachof us each and every one of us.

02-20-2025

Sarah Outterson-Murphy [Gloria Dei Lutheran Church]

As a parent and as a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran church, I say NO to this bill! I do not want immigrant communities to live in fear of discrimination based on appearance and language. I do not want my local police distracted from actual criminals by spending their time chasing down refugee families. I want my state to be a place based on human dignity and welcoming the stranger. Immigrants make our communities stronger. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I do NOT support this bill.

02-20-2025

Dena Miller [retired]

As a believer in the words of Christ, I ask of you, our lawmakers, to consider His words to clothe the stranger, to feed the hungry, to love thy neighbor as thyself. Many of the people being targeted are law abiding and only want to work, and work they do. They contribute vastly to our local and national economies performing jobs most Americans have no interest in doing. Many of these people are escaping persecution in their countries of origin. Most of them are fleeing crime, not coming to America to commit crime. It is a waste of taxpayer money to spend resources on an effort that will actually detract from the economy, not enhance the economy. Additionally, it is cruel to inflict upon families the fear of separation. Let's demonstrate 'Iowa Nice' by showing compassion and reason in dealing with immigrants who have come here to improve their lives and the lives of their families.

02-20-2025

Traci Ruhland Petty

As a Christian and Iowa resident, I urge you to vote against this bill. It sends a very clear message that Iowa is not safe for immigrants and refugees. Bills like these have proven to increase racial profiling, are a waste of local resources, and hurt families. Immigrants make our communities and our state better. They shouldn't have to live in fear about being detained because of their skin color. Iowans deserves better.

02-20-2025

Janeen Jorgensen

To subcommittee members Holt, Olson and Wheeler,I write to speak against the HSB 187 bill that would require law enforcement to carry out federal immigration programs, for which they have not received training, nor for which their offices have received funding from the federal government. This means that law enforcement personnel will not have the same amount of time to carry out their local communities. This raises safety issues. Law enforcement officers without immigration related training are also at risk for making mistakes. I have been told about a recent immigrant, whose petition is supported by family members and longterm citizens of Hampton,Iowa, has been wrongfully arrested. I also wonder if citizens who observe local police carrying out immigration related arrests might very well be confused and fearful themselves. Developing trust and good will for law enforcement is difficult enough without complicating their roles in this way. Finally, if ICE lacks personnel to carry out their deportations, they should request additional funding from the Congress to hire and train additional agents. I trust that you will consider these concerns in your deliberations.

02-20-2025

Tom Novotney

Good morning I am in opposition to HSB 187, which requires all local law enforcement agencies to sign written agreements with ICE. I support the right of local governments to exercise reasonable and appropriate discretion in the handling of immigrant detainees, consistent with the need to maintain public safety. The people in the Cedar Valley have positive opinions of and support local, county, and state law enforcement officers of their families. Please give consideration to the outstanding work they are already doing and not add a significant duty to their plates.

02-20-2025

Kathi Sircy

I oppose this bill that would weaponize local law enforcement against our immigrant communities on moral, ethical and constitutional grounds. And, since our police departments are stretched thin as it is, it further burdens our people who are to protect and serveus.Vote no!!

02-20-2025

Gianna Pugliese [Iowa Resident]

I urge this subcommittee to REJECT HSB 187. This bill would further distrust in law enforcement, who have worked very hard over the last few years to build relationships in our communities. This will lead to more crimes going unreported. It is also a welldocumented fact that 287g agreements lead to increased racial profiling (2011 & 2012 DOJ investigations and a 2022 study from Texas A&M). This will deepen community distrust of law enforcement. Additionally, it is also an agreement where the cities signing the agreement are burdened with most of the cost of running the program. While ICE is responsible for the training and the instillation/ maintenance of the software, localities are left with their police force the same size with added tasks and localities are rarely fully reimbursed from SCAAP. Iowa cannot afford this bill public safetywise or monetarily. please OPPOSE this bill.

02-20-2025

Nancy Miller [individual]

Concerned citizen. I encourage you to oppose HSB 187 bill. This bill puts the local police and sheriff departments in a difficult position because instead of creating a level of trust with the local community, it creates a wedge of mistrust because crimes will not be reported because people will fear for their safety even when they have legal status. This bill is another name for racial profiling and can be used to separate family members. It would draw resources and personal away from local authorities to do the work of the federal government, which is not their job. As a person of faith, I believe in the dignity and right of every person to be treated with respect and this bill feeds mean spirited actions. Once again, House Study Bill 187 SHOULD NOT PROCEED. Thank you. Sr. Nancy Miller, OSF

02-20-2025

Danielle Eivins [Citizen]

I urge you to reject HSB 187. This bill is based on unfounded fear of immigrants. Immigrant families are a vital part of our community. It is not the job of the local police to enforce immigration laws. Forcing local police to act as ICE agents would undermine the public trust in the police and could harm our public safety. Our community of immigrants, whether they are documented or not, would not be able to trust the police. This bill would separate families, harm communities, and make Iowa less safe.

02-20-2025

Renata Owens

I fully disagree with this bill for multiple reasons:Public safety: 287(g) agreements discourage crime reporting, making communities less safe.Racial profiling: This bill encourages discrimination based on appearance and language.Family separation: It will devastate families and communities.Waste of resources: It diverts funding from real community safety initiatives.Faith & moral obligation: It contradicts values of dignity, justice, and welcoming the stranger.

02-20-2025

Garry Klein [Concerned citizen]

For all the reasons mentioned in other comments previously stated and out of concern that the immigrants regardless of their status are being subjected to undue scrutiny that borders on persecution. This bill should be rejected by reasonable people. Civil liberties should receive thought and use of public safety resources than this bill as it is written.

02-20-2025

Christine M Catney [Concerned Citizen]

I write in OPPOSITION to HSB 187 and urge state legislators to reject this bill. My rationale includes these points:1) Local law enforcement and ICE have separate functions. The former provides services that keep a community safe and fuctioning. The latter enforces federal immigration law. 2) Embroiling local law enforcement in ICE actions would use precious and limited resoures that a community needs to remain safe. The bill is unclear regarding the type and extent of funding that would be provided, if any, to supplement local law enforcement budgets. 3) Profiling by both police and community members likely would increase. In my community (Iowa City) I am hearing from people I know who are U.S. citizens and longterm community members that they are being mistreated in public on the basis of their appearance ("looking Hispanic") and assumptions that they are undocumented. ICE is known to make mistakes and to detain and deport people who are lawabiding U.S. citizens. The level of fear among community members is rising. Fear compromises trust. Involvement of local law enforcement in ICE actions is likely to decrease trust in law enforcement among the entire community, not just those who may be subject to ICE actions. This law is likely to make communities less safe. 4) ICE is known to intimidate people with socalled warrants that have not been issued appropriately (i.e. signed by a judge) ICE can issue a detainer request, but, according to the ICE web site, these are only REQUESTS that do not impose obligations on local law enforcement agencies. See: https://www.ice.gov/immigrationdetainers Iowa law enforcement should not be forced by state law to honor them, especially when ICE is known to issue them against people who are merely suspected of being a threat rather than known to be a threat. I urge Iowa legislators to reject this bill.

02-20-2025

Rosa Rodriguez

Local police involvement in federal immigration enforcement harms communities contradict law enforcement best practices. One important tenet of community policing is that, in order to reduce crime and disorder, police need to work cooperatively with people in neighborhoods to identify their concerns and get their help in order to solve their problems. Failure to maintain trust and open lines of communication with the public results in an unwillingness to cooperate or share information that could prevent much more serious crimes.Many immigrants, both documented and undocumented, have experienced neglect, corruption, and abuse from local law enforcement in their home countries. They hope to leave these behind when arriving in the United States. Cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE can lead to immigrants being ripped away from their families and communities and can violate the rights and privacy of immigrants. If local law enforcement officers, whose job is to protect the public, start to function as an arm of ICE, they start to resemble local law enforcement in the home countries of immigrants: unreliable at best and harmful at worst. Is that what we want??https://leitf.org/2024/12/bestpracticesforlawenforcementtopreservecommunitytrustinthecontextofincreasedimmigrationenforcement/

02-20-2025

Rev. Nils de Jesus Hernandez [Queen of Peace Catholic Church / Hispanic Ministry]

As Pastor of Queen of Peace Parish and a person of faith working daily with parishioners who are natives of Iowa and immigrants of various legal status, I know that HSB 187 MUST NOT BE ACCEPTED as it violates the human dignity. I believe that what the social teaching of the Catholic Church teaches that every nation has the right to protect its borders. I also believe that those who have committed crimes must be accountable. I also agree that local authorities need to exercise reasonable and appropriate discretion in handling immigrant detainees. However, HSB 187 would force local police to act as ICE agents under 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement agencies to detain and begin deportation proceedings against immigrants. They are not trained federal immigration officers. The local agencies will be using resources that are important for public safety. These agreements would undermine public safety, create racial profiling, erode trust, and redirect resources use for community protection. I believe in the dignity of every person, welcoming the stranger, and standing with the vulnerable as Christ taught us. This bill is irrelevant as it contradicts these values and threatens to separate families. The impact of this will be the harm to the communities and making Iowa less safe. Finally, as a citizen of Iowa and a man of faith, I will not stand for this injustice against any human being because it contradicts all my believes. Iowa is a welcoming State but this bill is saying to immigrants you are not welcome to this place where we contribute to the economy of the State. Instead, we urgently need an immigration reform which would allow to fix the broken system the way it is now. THEREFORE, I SAY NO TO HSB 187.

02-20-2025

Anne Betts

Please do not vote in favor of this bill! It is antiimmigrant, encourages racial profiling, diverts resources from real community protection and gives authority to untrained police officers! This is so wrong!! Please stand up for what is right and not be so afraid of pleasing our President and the Republican party!!!!!Anne Betts

02-20-2025

Marilyn Huegerich [Sisters of St. Francis]

This bill does not represent who we are. Iowans are welcoming people, not discriminating people. This bill is an example of racial profiling. It separates families and communities based on appearance and language. I ask that you remember that people are equal under the law. Our laws are to support and protect the dignity and justice of all.

02-20-2025

Luke Hertzler [Washington For Justice]

As an educator and person of faith, I would like to speak out against this bill. My faith calls me to welcome the immigrant for Leviticus 19:34 says, "You shall love the immigrant as yourself." Overall, this bill would divert funding from real community safety initiatives. Law enforcement already has so much on their plates to try and promote public safety. This bill would cause communities to be less safe, sow distrust, and increase the usage of racial profiling. Police officers often frequent school to show that they're there to help, but students would see them in a different light with the creation of this law.

02-20-2025

Laura Anderson [Franciscan Peace Center]

I urge legislators to oppose HSB 187, a bill that will harm Iowas communities and contradict our states values of justice and dignity.This bill promotes racial profiling, encouraging discrimination based on appearance and language rather than actual wrongdoing. It will create fear among immigrant communities and erode trust in law enforcement, making our neighborhoods less safe.It will also separate families, tearing apart parents and children, disrupting livelihoods, and devastating entire communities. No child should have to live in fear that their family members will be taken away.HSB 187 is a waste of resources, diverting funding away from real public safety initiatives. Our tax dollars should be used to strengthen communities, not to implement policies that divide and harm them.As people of faith, we have a moral obligation to uphold the dignity of all individuals and to welcome the stranger, not to criminalize them. This bill stands in direct opposition to the principles of justice, compassion, and the common good.Iowa should be a place where all people are treated with fairness and respect. Please reject HSB 187 and instead pursue policies that strengthen, rather than tear apart, our communities.

02-20-2025

Anne Tabor

Stop HSB 187.I am writing to ask you to stop and think hard what your community will look like if you allow this bill to go forward. With no reason or justification you want to in actuality DEFUND the POLICE. The narrative targeting immigrants as almost nonhuman (aliens) criminals which has been perpetuated over the last year is made up from lies, hatred, and racism. It is time to stand for dignity .In addition to all moral and ethical questions this bill ignoresIn addition to all the negative impact on families this bill would haveIn addition to a significant negative economic impact on the State (loss of immigrant tax payments and local spending)In addition to causing severe worker storages in not only agricultural but also building and manufacturing fieldsthis bill puts the safety of all Iowans at risk as the number of officers attending to the job they are paid to do will cut (defunded). There is another way. Dedicate resources to housing, childcare, workforce development and programs to enhance and lives and ensure are freedoms/rights. (Which is why people come to the United States).

02-20-2025

Mary McGee Light

Please vote NO on this bill. It would make it less safe for refugees and immigrants and destroy their families. It is unnecessary for local law enforcement to be involved in ICE activities. They have enough to do without adding to their responsibilities. Immigrants provide huge benefits to the economy of the state, and this bill would be devastating to them and the economy. I would hope you would show some humanity toward them, who are human beings just like you, and vote NO on this bill.

02-20-2025

Thomas Carsner

HSB 187 is blatantly UNCONSTITUTIONAL. It is also inhumane.Immigration regulations are only a federal matter. Forcing state and city law enforcement to do the work of ICE and other federal law enforcement is indeed unconstitutional and will be challenged in court which will cost the state plenty of money and time when it loses.HSB 187 is inhumane as it strips all due process rights from immigrants, which are plainly granted to all people under American jurisdiction. What ICE did under Trump will be opened to a wider group of immigrants if HSB 187 is passed.

02-20-2025

Morgan Clark

I am opposed to HSB 187. Local law enforcement should not be an extension of federal agencies, and we shouldn't be wasting our tax dollars on something that is the job of the federal government to handle. We are a landlocked state hundreds of miles from the nearest international border; immigration enforcement is not something we as a state need to put any effort towards. Leave the feds' job to the feds, and vote NO.

02-20-2025

Michelle LeCaptain

Do not support this bill. It is evil to separate and devastate families, encourages racial profiling, and is a waste of taxpayer dollars. I do not want my fellow Iowans who fled violence to rebuild their lives here subjected to this bill.

02-20-2025

dorothy fowles [concerned citizen]

I strongly oppose HSB187 and hope you will too.HSB 187 would take local law enforcement personal from doing their job to make communities safe. Thus it would waste local resources which are already scarce.It has the strong possibility of devastating families through separation. It contradicts our moral obligation to defend justice and help each other.

02-20-2025

Angela Looney [Washginton For Justic]

I totally oppose this legislation because it does not make our community safer. In fact, it makes our community unsafe. It requires tearing apart the foundation of the family unit. It encourages racial profiling and again, it makes our community less safe.By diverting funding to force our local police force to act as ICE agents diverts funding from real community safety initiatives. Leave our folks alone!This whole antiimmigrant bill contradicts s my values, and it contradicts the values of dignity, justice and welcoming the stranger. Angela looney

02-20-2025

Joan Wright

I am writing in strong opposition to HSB 187. As a lifelong resident of the state of Iowa, I believe this will result in racial profiling, cause residents less likely to seek help, and put undue burden on local law enforcement. As a lifelong member of the Catholic faith, it is in opposition to the values I hold dear. All people are to be treated with kindness and dignity. We are informed by our faith to welcome the stranger and to provide comfort and care to immigrants, regardless of status. Sincerely,Joan Comer Wrigh

02-20-2025

Thomas Brown

Last summer, I stayed in an airbnb in a trailer park that was occupied by mostly immigrants. Several times we had tornadoes pass by the city, and I experienced for the first time being forced to huddle in a shelter. Surrounded by those same immigrants. It was a humbling experience. It was a reminder that at the end of the day we're all human beings just struggling to get through the day. When you vote on this bill, I ask you to consider the humanity of the people this law would affect. If you consider yourself a person of faith, I ask you to remember that God made you, me, and the foreigner all with equal amounts of love. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.Leviticus 19:34I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. William Faulkner

02-20-2025

E. J. Rogers

This bill is a waste of resources and diverts funding that could be used on things that actually make our communities safer. Plus, if people think the cops are ICE then that will strongly discourage crime reporting. Finally, this bill will, in practice, force cops to racially profile people. We know from plenty of data that this leads to injustice, in addition to being morally wrong.The state of Iowa should not be just another federal government flunkie. We should not be letting the federal government's agenda dictate our legislative and funding priorities, especially not when those priorities obviously hurt Iowans and undermine Iowan institutions.

02-20-2025

Patricia Peterson [retired]

I urge the defeat of this bill. The danger of isolating migrants and separating families is very realthis bill is based on instilling fear. I am concerned with the mingling of federal and local law enforcement individuals. We cannot, in the name of "enforcing laws" break laws, norms and destroy values. This bill stands to encourage racial profiling, based on individuals' appearance and language. Local police departments are not funded, trained or able to enforce immigration law. We do not have sufficient funding to support local needs, much less forcing police to enforce immigration lawespecially when these efforts are based on ill formed and thoughtless presidential directives. Iowa should not play a role in this ill advised, ill conceived effort. Enforce laws, yes; willy nilly going after individuals we think "might be" undocumented is a slippery slope leading to dangerous times. These are dangerous grounds on which to base a meaningful policy. Defeat this bill.

02-20-2025

MAUREEN LEACH [Challenging Systemic Racism Committee of the Sisters of Saint Francis]

As people of faith, we support humane comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level. We oppose HSB 187 which states, every law enforcement agency in the state shall enter into written memorandums of agreement with United States immigration and customs enforcement to participate in the immigration programs established under section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act,8U.S.C.1357(g). This bill puts the local police and sheriff departments in a difficult position because instead of creating a level of trust with the local community, it creates a wedge of mistrust. Crimes may not be reported because people fear for their safety even when they have legal status. Passage of this bill will increase racial profiling and lead to violations of an individuals constitutional and civil rights. Local police must protect crime victims and witnesses regardless of their immigration status and should encourage all victims and witnesses to report crimes.The bill also draws resources and personnel away from local authorities, forcing them to do the work of the federal government, which is not their job. Recent threats to defund law enforcement agencies who refuse to participate in jailing federal detainees are a threat to public safety. It can prevent them from fulfilling their primary missions of investigating and preventing crime. It can also increase overcrowding in jails. We believe in the dignity and right of every person to be treated with respect and this bill puts a target on people of color whether they are citizens or not. Once again, House Study Bill 187 SHOULD NOT PROCEED. Thank you for considering the negative implications the passage of this bill would cause for our state. Maureen Leach, OSF, Challenging Systemic Racism Committee of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Dubuque, Ia.

02-20-2025

Ninoska Campos [Escucha Mi Voz Iowa]

Mi nombre es Ninoska Campos. Soy de Honduras soy miembro de la organizacin de Escucha Mi Voz Iowa. Estoy en contra de la ley HSB187. El proyecto de ley HSB 187 es una medida extrema y antiinmigrante que obligara a la polica local a actuar como agentes de ICE bajo los acuerdos 287(g). Esta peligrosa propuesta destrozar familias, fomentar la discriminacin racial y har que nuestras comunidades sean menos seguras.

02-20-2025

Daniel Henderson [Washington For Justice]

I stand opposed to HSB 187. There are several reasons. First, Public safety: 287(g) agreements discourage crime reporting, making communities less safe. Second, Racial profiling: This bill encourages discrimination based on appearance and language. That is unAmerican and not consistent with our values. Third, it will promote Family separation: It will devastate families and communities.Fourth, it is a waste of resources: It diverts funding from real community safety initiatives which local law enforcement are responsible for. Fifth, the Faith & moral obligation: It contradicts values of dignity, justice, and welcoming the stranger. Please vote against this bill. This is not what Iowans want and not what our immigration system needs.

02-20-2025

Joan Cook

I am a concerned citizen and a member of Thomas More Church. I am passionately opposed HSB 187 It is cruel and unjust. Such unfunded mandates force police to enforce immigration laws and make our communities less safe by discouraging crime reporting while encouraging racial profiling and discrimination. Tearing families apart is also cruel and irresponsible. These people are not criminals. Such a bill conflicts with values of dignity, justice, and welcoming the stranger. We sing about welcoming these people who come here for a better life.

02-20-2025

Gaylen Wobeter

Forcing local law enforcement to help Federal ICE agents is unlawful and immoral. Promoting fear of immigrants, who have proven to be more law abiding than natural born American citizens, is a political ploy used by many autocratic leaders over many years of history.

02-20-2025

Ninoska Campos [Escucha Mi Voz Iowa]

Mi nombre es Ninoska Campos soy de Honduras soy miembro de la organizacin Escucha Mi Voz Iowa City. Estoy en contra de la ley HSB187 ya que la polica est para resguardar el orden de la sociedad y mantener control y calma no para causar un caos en la comunidad. No es justo que un trabajador vaya manejando en su automvil y sea detenido por un polica o sheriff y arresten sin deber nada simplemente por ser discriminados en la sociedad por ser latinos por nuestro idioma nuestra piel. Valemos en las finanzas de este pas porque pagamos impuestos federales estatales mejoramos y aportamos a la economa de esta gran nacin. Somos buenos vecinos, somos todos hijos de Dios, fuimos creados a imagen y semejanza de Dios por lo tanto ante los ojos de Dios somos iguales. Entonces estoy en contra de esta ley...gracias

02-20-2025

Donald Burch [Act Justly St. Andrew Presbuterian Church]

I am opposed to HSB 187. It will make communities less safe. It will encourage racial profiling. It will result in families being torn apart. It diverts public funding from the programs for which it was intended. Please vote no on this disruptive bill.

02-20-2025

Kent Ferris [Diocese of Davenport ]

I wish to express opposition to HSB 187, which requires all local law enforcement agencies to sign written agreements with ICE. Catholic social teaching recognizes a countrys right and responsibility to manage its borders. As such, I understand the right of local governments to exercise reasonable and appropriate discretion in the handling of immigrant detainees, consistent with the need to maintain public safety, but do not believe that an escalation of immigrant detention and intensive use of local enforcement in communities is the way to achieve compassionate and merciful reform of our immigration system.HSB 187 is unnecessary and redundant.

02-20-2025

Keith Soko [One Human Family QCA]

Please vote no on this bill that would force local police to act as ICE agents. This undermines our local communities and law enforcement. Republicans in Congress showed last year, when they refused to sign a bipartisan bill on immigration, that they are not concerned with real immigration reform. They are now a racist party. Iowa republicans should not be following suit with republicans in Washington. Support our immigrants and communities in Iowa!

02-20-2025

Keith Soko [One Human Family QCA]

02-20-2025

Carole Frazee [Act Justly @ Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church - Iowa City]

I am opposed and wish you to against HSB 187. A 287(g) agreement will discourage crime reporting and make communities less safe. Racial profiling is already a problem, and it will encourage or require law enforcement to do even more of it. Families will be torn apart in our communities. Our local police stations, sheriff's departments and state patrol do not have the funding to perform ICE responsibilities. If this bill passes it will take funding and time away from local responsibilities, further making our neighborhoods less safe. The whole bill is morally wrong, and conflicts with the values of justice, dignity and welcoming and caring for our neighbors, even if they are different from us, especially if you follow Christ's teachings and claim to live as He taught us to live. Treat your neighbors the way you want to be treated! Vote no!

02-20-2025

Colleen McRoberts

I strongly oppose HSB 187 because it undermines public safety, human rights, and blurs lines between powers, duties, and jurisdictions of law enforcement entitites. I oppose racial profiling. I oppose detention without due process. I oppose legislation that separates families. I oppose legislation that crushes hope and possibility for immigrants, regugees and migrating peoples. I oppose legislation that sets people against one another using race, language, culture, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic class identities.

02-20-2025

Alejandra Fingert [Escucha Mi Voz]

My name is Alejandra Fingert with Escucha MI Voz Iowa City. Escucha Mi Voz is an organization that fights for social justice and immigration reform.I am against this extreme and harmful antiimmigrant bill because it only promotes racial prejudice and hate. Im against a bill that makes the community less safe by discouraging crime reporting.Im against HSB187 bill because it is a waste of local resources.I DO NOT support this bill because it goes against dignity and justice. Immigrants, and this includes all of you and your ancestors that came to live in the US, have always been the heartbeat and the driving force of this country.

02-20-2025

Cara Calvin-McFerren [West Liberty resident]

Respected Legislators,I would like the committee to reconsider the ramifications this bill could have in the future if it should pass. I live in a small rural community and our resources are very limited as it stands. Our local leadership and community works to meet the needs of our community as much as possible. To mandate what is (has been) a federally enacted, involved and financially resourced action and responsibility, can't be place on the plate of our local law enforcement. We have much to meet in terms of state code mandates, rules, regulations and local ordinances that it is specifically not the responsibility of the local law enforcement to carry out a national charge of enforcement meant to be authorized and enforced though a federal supported agency. An agency that has the support, unification, special training, tactics and equipment to maintain a policy for an entire nation. As one state in the union, it would be very difficult to assert any kind of consistency for a national goal. Please reconsider and do not place this burden on our local communities.

02-20-2025

Edward Fitzpatrick

This bill HSB 187 should not be advanced. Its passage would continue an unjust and discriminatory assault on our neighbors our brothers and sisters and their families. It would also seem to compromise our local law enforcement who are asked to protect our citizens; not be asked to cause fear in them.

02-20-2025

Sarah J

Once again, your public constituents, (many who did not & will not vote for you) are urging you NOT to pass this bill. Why do you allow public comment on legislative committees if you are just going to continue to pass harmful rhetoric that is & will hurt Iowa families for generations? This is ANOTHER waste of time & taxpayer money being fronted to harass, tear apart, & justify racism towards immigrant families in Iowa. Local law enforcement has no place mingling with federal law enforcement regarding ICE raids & quite frankly, ICE has no business coming into our communities & asking us to turn over our neighbors. I will not be complicit & we will hold you accountable. Are you even listening? On February 8th in Texas, 11year old Jocelynn Rojo Carranza took her life due to bullying from peers that threatened to turn her parents in to ICE & you want to fast track this kind of hate & pain onto the residents of Iowa? Get bent. You will go down in history for siding with racists & Nazi for the passing of this bill. Do not pass this bill. Do not bully immigrant families. Do not separate families. Do not rope local law enforcement into further Nazi rhetoric. Iowa wants their children, families, communities to flourish & you are doing nothing to facilitate growth here.

02-20-2025

Kirsten Brooks

I am a 40 year old white woman who has worked in both public and private education, and I urge you to OPPOSE HSB 187 utterly and vehemently. In addition to being legally problematic and morally reprehensible, permitting or conscripting local law enforcement agencies to act as agents of ICE is a bureaucratic nightmare and a total waste of resources. Local law enforcement agencies' responsibilities are to the members of their local communities and ensuring their safety and wellbeing. Collaborating with ICE's witch hunt not only takes energy and resources away from investing in community issues but will devolve into rampant racial profiling and serve only to further damage the trust between policemen and women and those they are sworn to serve and protect. DO NOT SUPPORT THIS OR ANY SIMILAR BILL!

02-20-2025

Donna B

DO NOT PASS this bill. First off, I ask you, if all these immigrants are freeloaders, why is ICE so focused on raiding places of employment? As this legislature continues to cut budget, it is not in IA law enforcement budget to have enough resources for their own operations let alone to do federal operations in addition. Does local law enforcement even have ICE training, and who pays for that? County residents? More taxes? Federal government is slashing spending, it wont come from there.

02-20-2025

Monica Maloney-Mitros [Concerned citizen]

Please do not advance this bill. Drop this bill. It is wrong to ask local law enforcement to act as Federal agents. They are not trained and they are not funded to do this. We need our officers to serve our local communities as they are trained for and hired to do. I am concerned that this law will reduce public safety, lead to racial profiling, decease our trust in our local officials, build fear in our immigrant community members and lead to separation of families. This is morally wrong. Please vote no and do not advance this bill.

02-20-2025

Terri Finley

I'm against the unfunded mandate to make our local police enforce a federal immigration law. Our police officers already have a full time job taking care of our community needs as it is. I feel HSB 187 is an unnecessary burden on both the workforce and budget of our local police departments. I also feel it's just wrong to criminalize our immigrant communities. The HSB 187 bill will encourage discrimination against people based on their appearance and language. This goes against the values that I hold dear, as do many Iowans, like treating others with dignity, justice, and welcoming the stranger. Our immigrant neighbors are valuable members of our community. Please do not go forward with HSB 187.

02-20-2025

Rick Rupprecht [Clarke University]

Local police's job is to protect and serve. I have never met a police officer who wants to act as an ICE agent to help deport people. Good police officers respect the hard work of immigrants and realize their value as active and caring community members. Many immigrants have roots that go back many years. Many have children who were born and were raised here. I have worked in concert with law enforcement and immigrants for many years. This bill just does not make sense and is not good for Iowa. It is extremely out of touch.As a man of faith, I believe in the dignity of every person, welcoming the stranger, and standing with the vulnerable. This bill contradicts these values, threatening to separate families, harm communities, and make Iowa less safe.

01-25-2026

Sandra Bild

Subject: Opposition to HSB 187 Mandatory 287(g) Agreements for Iowa Law EnforcementI am writing to formally oppose HSB 187.This bill would require every law enforcement agency in Iowa to enter into mandatory 287(g) agreements with ICE by January 1, 2026, regardless of local conditions, priorities, or funding realities.Forcing local and county law enforcement to carry out federal immigration enforcement is a misuse of state and local resources and a dangerous expansion of authority.Recent events in Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts show the realworld consequences of entangling local police with federal immigration operations:Erosion of community trustIncreased risk of unconstitutional detentionsLaw enforcement pulled away from violent crime, drugs, and public safetyHeightened risk of civil rights violations and costly litigationLocal law enforcement is trained and funded to protect public safety, not to act as an extension of a federal immigration agency.This bill removes local discretion, imposes an unfunded state mandate, and forces political subdivisions to comply even when no funding is provided explicitly overriding the protections in Code section 25B.2.That is bad policy and bad governance.Mandatory participation in both the jail enforcement model and the warrant service officer program will:Divert officers from serious crimeDiscourage immigrant communities from reporting crimes or cooperating with policeExpose counties and cities to legal liability for unconstitutional detentionsTurn routine policing into federal immigration enforcement without proper oversightIowa law enforcement has better uses of its time and training than carrying out federal immigration functions that belong with the federal government.This bill does not make Iowa safer.It makes policing less effective, more politicized, and more legally risky.I urge you to oppose HSB 187.