Meeting Public Comments
Meeting informations are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: RM 103
Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.
Comments Submitted:
03-04-2025
Mary McGee Light
Please vote NO on this bill. It is inhumane, destructive to immigrants and their families. It is also unduly expensive and places a burden on law enforcement. Thank you
03-04-2025
Maria Mellado
Please don't approve bill 287
03-04-2025
Anne Betts
Please do not pass the bill requiring all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter "287(g)" agreements with ICE, effectively deputizing local police as immigration agents!!!This would undermine community trust, divert resources from public safety, increase racial profiling, and ultimately tear families apart.This bill is so wrong!
03-04-2025
Michelle Aitchison
I am very opposed to the current bill requiring local law enforcement to act as ICE officers. Please vote no on this bill to keep our society more just and humane. Thank you,Michelle
03-04-2025
Andy Douglas
Local law enforcement agencies should not be deputized to enforce to act as immigration agents. This is not their purview, and it stretches thin law enforcement capacities. It also undermines trust cultivated in the community, a trust that is necessary for them to do their real work serve and protect. Please do not support this untenable bill. Thank you.
03-04-2025
Peggy Petrzelka
I urge you to please vote NO on the bill proposedthat would require all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter "287(g)" agreements with ICE, effectively deputizing local police as immigration agents. Passage of this bill would undermine community trust, divert resources from public safety, increase racial profiling, and ultimately tear families apart.We, as Iowans, are better than this!!Thank you for your consideration of my comment.
03-04-2025
Brooke Bandit [Downtown Disciples]
I am against 287(G) that would require law enforcement to work with Ice. Jesus calls us to love and welcome our neighbors, especially those who are the most vulnerable and I cannot in good conscious support working with ICE who is tracking hard working down individuals and displacing them. It is inhumane and cruel. We are all children of God and deserve love, support and dignity especially when we are in difficult situations. Please do NOT let 287(G) move forward. Our police officers already have enough on their plate keeping our citizens safe they should not have more added to their plate, especially something that goes against their goal of protecting and serving our community.
03-04-2025
Amy Edmondson
I do NOT support this bill which will be a poor use of resources and undue burden on local agencies. It will also lead to profiling and other unconstitutional discrimination as well as breeding distrust between local law enforcement agencies and minority populations. Please do not support this bill. Our local law enforcement needs to focus on crime not profiling.
03-04-2025
Anna Gudenkauf
I am against this bill. Please vote no.
03-04-2025
Angela Looney [Washington For Justice]
The upcoming bill requiring all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter "287(g)" agreements with ICE, effectively deputizing local police as immigration agents is one that I do not support. I encourage all to not support this bill. This would undermine community trust, divert resources from public safety, increase racial profiling, and ultimately tear families apart. This is not the kind of community we need in our Iowa cities and counties. We need love and trust. Last week you all picked on transgendered folks and it was appalling. I was ashamed of comments I heard that backed the bill. This week do not make the same mistake. Stand up for the rights of people who live and work and support their families. Grow a backbone and stand up to these racists ideologies.
03-04-2025
Sister Dr. Theresa Keller [Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration]
This bill would jeopardize the lives and families of citizens and over reach police/Sherriff departments. This is ethically wrong and also illegal. I should not have to leave a public comment to remain public servants of their oaths and duty to all the people of iowa. stop this billStop The BAD ICE BillTheresa Keller
03-04-2025
Patricia Benson
I come from a family in which 3 of my siblings and 2 of their spouses have served as law enforcement officers. They serve their communities in many ways, one of which is as trusted persons from whom one can seek help when in need or in crisis. They do not need to be burdened with additional tasks that belong to a specific federal agency, one that is not viewed by the public at large as trustworthy. Making local law enforcement work with or serve as ICE agents would destroy years of public trust these local agencies have worked hard to build. Do not pass this legislation.
03-04-2025
Marjorie Healy
287gWould cause racial profiling, damage public trust, reduce public safety and damage our sense of community. Families would suffer.
03-04-2025
Katherine Kunau
Rep. Steven Holt's bill requiring all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter "287(g)" agreements with ICE, effectively deputizing local police as immigration agents is a revolting and cruel overreach only meant to further terrorize immigrant communities. Truly, I cannot fathom the lack of Christian feeling in these socalled "good men," who are, in actuality, virulent, soulless white nationalists. Disgusting.
03-04-2025
Gene McCracken
I oppose 287 agreements being mandated on local law enforcement officials. These mandates are: Un/underfunded, are disruptive to efforts to build community policing in our locales and distract from the primary purpose of local law enforcement. Please let local entities make these decisions for themselves. Please do not mandate this for each and every law enforcement entity in the state! Thank you for your consideration.
03-04-2025
A. Johnson
I am opposed to the passing of HSB 187 which would require law enforcement to work with ICE. If immigrant communities cannot go to law enforcement without fear of deportation, it will result in everyone being less safe.
03-04-2025
Laura Anderson [Franciscan Peace Center]
I write today in strong opposition to HSB 187, which would mandate agreements between local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the 287(g) program. This legislation is not only unnecessary but also dangerous for Iowas communities. It would promote racial profiling, harm public safety, and instill fear in immigrant and refugee families who contribute to the social and economic fabric of our state.HSB 187 would increase racial profiling by incentivizing local law enforcement to target individuals based on appearance rather than any legitimate cause for suspicion. Studies have shown that 287(g) agreements disproportionately impact Latinx community members, leading to unnecessary stops and pretextual arrests for minor infractions. Similar policies have already been condemned by the U.S. Department of Justice and the United Nations for promoting racial discrimination.Beyond its discriminatory impact, HSB 187 would erode trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. When local officers are forced to act as immigration agents, victims and witnesses of crime are less likely to come forward, making all of us less safe. Public safety should be our prioritynot policies that isolate and terrorize vulnerable communities.Moreover, there is no evidence that policies like 287(g) make our communities safer. Research shows that immigrants are less likely than U.S.born individuals to commit crimes, and deportations do not reduce crime rates. Instead, this legislation would divert valuable local resources away from critical public servicessuch as education and healthcaretoward unnecessary and harmful immigration enforcement.Iowa should be a place of welcome, fairness, and justice. HSB 187 sends the opposite message. I urge you to reject this harmful bill and instead support policies that strengthen, rather than divide, our communities.
03-04-2025
Susan Corbin-Muir
I oppose requiring local law enforcement organizations to submit to 287g agreement with federal immigration authorities. Our local law enforcement agencies perform many services in our community and we should not burden them with duties that are not primary to our public safety. Immigration laws are set by the federal government and should be enforced by their law enforcement agencies alone.
03-04-2025
Janice Cebula
HSB 187 will drive a wedge between communities and law enforcement. It most likely will result in racial profiling. Forcing law enforcement agencies into becoming ICE agents will take them away from other duties that are more needed in local communities. Enforcing immigration policies is a function of the federal government, not local police. Immigration is the backbone of our country and of Iowa. Immigrants are revitalizing many rural areas and are contributing to local communities. Why do people want to disturb communities that are functioning fine right now or are being revitalized? I urge all of you to oppose HSB 187.
03-04-2025
Sadie Kirschenman
Dear Members of the House Judiciary Committee,I strongly oppose HSB 187, which would force all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter 287(g) agreements with ICE. This policy undermines public safety by eroding trust between immigrant communities and local police, making people less likely to report crimes or cooperate with investigations. It also diverts critical law enforcement resources away from addressing local crime and increases the risk of racial profiling and civil rights violations.Public safety should not be compromised for federal immigration enforcement. I urge you to reject HSB 187 and prioritize policies that foster trust, protect civil rights, and keep all Iowa communities safe.
03-04-2025
Susan Corbin-Muir
I oppose requiring local law enforcement organizations to submit to 287g agreement with federal immigration authorities. Our local law enforcement agencies perform many services in our community and we should not burden them with duties that are not primary to our public safety. Immigration laws are set by the federal government and should be enforced by their law enforcement agencies alone.
03-04-2025
Carole Frazee [Act Justly at St Andrew Presbyterian ]
Vote NO on 287(g)!!It is not what Iowans want. Do the right thing and listen to the majority, not your personal beliefs.
03-04-2025
Colleen McRoberts [Private Citizen]
NO on this bill. It is vicious, bigoted, morally wrong, and unneighborly.
03-04-2025
Thomas Brown
I ask you to reconsider these policy actions you're taking. This is dehumanizing to working families and people no different than you or I.
03-04-2025
Lauri Riss
Please do not target immigrants. Please stop the advancement of HSB 187. Do not proceed with deputizing local police as immigration agents. This would undermine community trust and divert resources from public safety.
03-04-2025
Kay Kopatich [NA]
STOP THIS ONEROUS BILL. It isn't necessary.Making ICE agents out of reluctant local police officers and sheriffs will burden officers who are already overstretched. Every Des Moines police officer that I have talked with says they don't want this because it interferes with important relationships with the community .Iowa immigrants are terrorized because they are being hunted by ICE Agents. The broad ICE dragnet can and will snag immigrants who have lived and worked peacefully in Iowa for many years. By far the largest number of undocumented immigrants are family oriented people who fled violence from their country and they only want to live in peace. The language used to describe immigrants is vile and untrue. Immigrants play an integral part in our communities and have an important role in our economy. They are our friends and neighbors and we don't want them separated from families. Thank you, Kay Kopatich, chaplain retired
03-04-2025
Julia Menard-Warwick
Iowa police have a LOT better things to do than harassing immigrants. Maybe start with enforcing traffic laws? Seriously, the immigrants I see around town are working hard, going to church, raising beautiful children. We are lucky to have them.
03-04-2025
Carol Tyx
Immigration is under the purview of the national government. Local authorities have no business doing a job that is not theirs. In addition this law hinders good relations between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Law enforcement needs to provide public safety to everyone living in this country. We need to do all we can to make that a reality.
03-04-2025
LaDonna Manternach [Sisters of Charity, BVM]
To Rep. Steven Holt and the House Judiciary Committee:Our federal immigration system is broken. Our state and country has benefitted from immigrants for nearly 200 years culturally, economically, and scientifically.It is immoral to require local police to act as immigration agents. They have enough to do to keep the public safe. We Iowans want to trust our local law enforcement officers to care for the good of the community. And immigrants have been good for our communities.Their presence contributes to our economy and act as a labor workforce providing needed services.Immigration needs to be managed but no one should fear for their lives or their family's future.Without immigrants our economy could flail because there is no one to take their place in the work place. As our population ages, where are the young people who will fill in to care for our elderly, open new businesses, pay taxes, and contribute to our economy and culture?Rather than sending immigrants away, let's find a way to recognize that they are contributing members and keep them here.
03-04-2025
Shannan Barnes
Vote NO on HSB 187 House Study Bill 187 poses substantial risks to community trust, public safety, civil rights, and the economic wellbeing of our state. I urge you to consider these concerns and oppose this legislation to ensure that Iowa remains a welcoming and safe place for all its residents.
03-04-2025
Geraldine Dull
The 287(g) agreements are ineffective at reducing crime and waste local resources. Also local law enforcement officers are not trained in immigration enforcement, which can lead to discriminatory tactics. I've read ICE neglects its oversight responsibilities and inadequately trains local enforcement officers.This will make our communities less safe and paranoid when we have law enforcement hunting down and targeting a group of people because of what they look like 99% law abiding people. Why? It doesn't make sense. It's not common sense at all. This is not what the majority of Iowans want. Please vote no to 287(g) agreement. Thank you.
03-04-2025
Jessica Roman
Vote no. The role of local law enforcement is not just to detain and arrest those who have broken the law, but to build trust within the community so people are not afraid to call when there is a need. This bill undermines that trust, and puts the safety of not only the public, but law enforcement officers at risk. Law enforcement is already stretched too thin, and adding additional strain only jeopardizes the safety of our communities.
03-04-2025
David Hempel
Rep. Holt's bill effectively deputizes local police as immigration agents which is a total farce! Our police have not been trained AT ALL to do this work. This bill is pure travesty! It would completely undermine community trust in our police. Get real !!! David Hempel (Iowa City)
03-04-2025
Philip Kean
Rep. Steven Holt (RDenison) is advancing a bill requiring all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter "287(g)" agreements with ICE, effectively deputizing local police as immigration agents. He's got to be out of his frickin' mind. Local police aren't trained for this, and they have WAY TOO MUCH TO DO ALREADY. If this becomes law, some people with foreign accents will be asked to prove their citizenship when they get stopped for a minor traffic violation. That's ridiculous.You folks are chasing after nonproblems. The vast majority of illegal immigrants are just hard working people trying to get by. We solve the problem of their immigration status by making it easier for people to enter the country legally and by letting all the illegal immigrants who are otherwise upstanding people get on a path to citizenship. But that's a FEDERAL PROBLEM. The Iowa legislature needs to stay in its own lane and deal with state matters. Don't turn our local police forces into jackbooted thugs for the Trump administration.
03-04-2025
Margaret Engelhardt
I'm writing to voice my opposition to the bill requiring all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter "287(g)" agreements with ICE. Our police force is already overworked and do not need to have this additional burden. Of all the important issues our state legislators could be focusing on, trying to deport Iowa's farm workers, factory workers, roofers, etc seems illogical.
03-04-2025
Edie Hochstetler
Rep. Steven Holt (RDenison) is advancing a bill requiring all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter "287(g)" agreements with ICE, effectively deputizing local police as immigration agents. This would undermine community trust, divert resources from public safety, increase racial profiling, and ultimately tear families apart.I urge you to stop such a bill.
03-04-2025
Sean McRoberts
Please reject HSB 187. This bill compels an unnecessary and inefficient use of our local law enforcement. It requires local law enforcement to do the job of federal agents in addition to their already considerable assignments. Further, it will harm the trust of local populations who might otherwise call on local law enforcement in community safety, domestic violence, and other pressing situations. If passed, this law would be expensive and counterproductive.
03-04-2025
Kristy Nabhan-Warren
I urge our elected state leaders to think about the immense damage that will be brought upon families, local communities, and our state's economy if the bill 287(g) is voted into state law. I have worked closely with immigrants the past ten years and they are hardworking mothers and fathers who are supporting our state's economy. They are essential workers in our state. If this bill is enacted into law, local police will be tasked with acting as de facto immigration agents. This will tear communities apart and will do harm to our local and state economies. I urge you to NOT vote yes to this bill.
03-04-2025
Rev. Katie Dawson
I strongly oppose HSB 187. As a United Methodist clergyperson, I lift up our Social Principles that call us to "oppose all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize, or punish displaced individuals and families based on their status as migrants, immigrants, or refugees." Morally, I am opposed to this bill. But I also oppose the bill on economic and social reasons. We do not have the funding to support adding these duties to our local law enforcement. We do not have the resources to hold these individuals in our prisons. This bill would undermine relationships that our local police officers have with our ethnic communities that ensures that they can be trusted to intervene in situations of domestic violence, crime, traffic stops, etc. We do not need to add this burden onto our law enforcement. We cannot afford to add this burden on our local jails.
03-04-2025
Melissa Denning
My initial reaction is that this is dangerous and unnecessary.I am so confused as to why it needs to be pushed through quicklymuch like the bill making it a misdemeanor for a medical professional to administer a COVID shot, this feels like one more step towards an authoritarian Iowaand creates an Iowa far different from what I have known over my lifetime. Please give this careful consideration.
03-04-2025
Maureen Vasile [St. Thomas More Church & Catholic Worker ]
To all House Judiciary members For the safety of all our Iowa communities do not pass bill 287g. Stop trying to tear families apart and make everyone fear the police!
03-04-2025
Jean Hogan [U of Iowa]
I understand Rep. Steven Holt (RDenison) is advancing a bill requiring all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter "287(g)" agreements with ICE, effectively deputizing local police as immigration agents. I believe this would cause more harm than good. Some harm I see is undermining community trust, diverting resources from public safety, increasing racial profiling, and ultimately tearing families apart.I ask the Judicial committee to please reconsider supporting this bill and avoiding harming Iowans. Sincerely Jean Hogan
03-04-2025
Pamela Mohr
Please OPPOSE HSB 187 / 287(g) a bill requiring every law enforcement agency in Iowa to enter into an agreement to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Law enforcement's job is to protect Iowans. This law will do the exact opposite, leading to racial profiling and making our communities less safe for everyone.
03-04-2025
Christine Youngstrom [Echucha Mi Voz]
Bill 187 is a blight on Iowa as state GOP congressional members rush to impress the new Federal Administration, while ignoring the rights of Iowans and our immigrant coommunities. Local Iowa law enforcement and law associations have had little to no time to express their opinions because in Kim Reynold's and Steven Holt's Iowa there is always the rush to gain recognition from Trump in anticipation of personal professional gain. I doubt many Iowans are aware of the burden this Bill will place on local law enforcement. Where is an articulated training procedure plan available for carrying out this edict? Also, is everyone aware that the 287 portion of the bill states zero funding will be available from the federal government? This will result in local communities covering all the costs of adding the ICE workload through their local budgets. The practices and reputation of our beautiful state are spiraling downward as a result of our reckless congressional members.
03-04-2025
Katy Hardy
Please vote OPPOSE to HSB 187. Local law enforcement need to utilize their time, safety, money, and resources in enforcing local law and keeping iowa communities safe. ICE is a federally funded and regulated agency and should be using their own resources and man power to regulate immigration.
03-04-2025
Kathy M Green
I understand that Rep. Steven Holt (RDenison) is advancing a bill requiring all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter "287(g)" agreements with ICE, effectively deputizing local police as immigration agents. This would undermine community trust, divert resources from public safety, increase racial profiling, and ultimately tear families apart. Please do not let this bill continue through the process. It is harmful to our communities and places undue work load and responsibility on local law enforcement.Kathy Green
03-04-2025
Betsy McClimen
This bill is illegal and a scare tactic to all people of color. Stop the madness.
03-04-2025
Mary Schenkenfelder
I oppose this bill. It is based on antimigrant misinformation, and does nothing to increase the actual safety of Iowans. This is a waste of taxpayer resources. Please vote "no."
03-04-2025
Kyle Kleeman
This is a scare tactic! It feels more and more like Iowa is NOT nice and our politicians are the ones making it that way!
03-04-2025
Martin Barr
We do not want this. Due process is already being undermined in some instances (without due process we have nothing). Do not force our officers to participate in that. Bills like these are having a seriously negative impact on the mental, emotional, and physical health of citizens all across Iowa. A brain drain is being hastened, and large numbers of young people are expressing that they do not intend to remain in Iowa, because of these types of bills. It is also out of step with the kingdom of God
03-04-2025
Wanda Hanson [Myself ]
Please do not pass.HSB 187 as our law enforcement will be over burdened by taking on a federal responsibility. I am proud of our hard working immigrants. This bill will only create fear in Iowans.
03-04-2025
Edward Fitzpatrick [Catholic Church]
Rushing a bill throughLittle public noticeSeems shameful to me
03-04-2025
Nicollet Markovetz
Stop it! The immigrants are human and are doing the work no one else is willing to do in Iowa. You better be going after and putting in jail the people who they work forn
03-04-2025
Jonathan Heifner [St. Paul’s UMC]
Please vote no on moving this legislation forward. This will remove any and all trust between local law enforcement and immigrants who need their protections and services. Creating distrust will not make any of us safer.
03-04-2025
Linda Fitzgerald [retired]
287(g) agreements put public safety at risk by discouraging crime reporting, and taking public safety workers away from their actual jobs, which are hard enough. Without increased funding commensurate with this new layer of obligation, it is a waste of deindling local resources. Racial profiling is inevitable, especially with the loss of training in cultural understanding for public workers. Families of hardworking parents are torn apart and, as we can see in Postville 17 years later, not easily repaired. But above all else is the hypocrisy of legislators who claim to be Christian and yet deny dignity and justice to the strangers like Jesus and his family in Egypt,fleeing oppression and threat of murder.
03-04-2025
Shawn Popma
Immigrants are an important part of our community and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Be good humans and do the right thing!!!
03-04-2025
Anita Christensen
I am opposed to HSB 187.
03-04-2025
Emily Sinnwell [Iowa City Catholic Worker House]
Please do not move this forward. This is a huge public safety issue, everyone should feel safe to call the police.
03-04-2025
Pamela McDonald
Please vote NO on this legislation. I don't want our local law enforcement to be forced into this situation, which is constitutionally questionable.
03-04-2025
Bonnie Murphy
I do not support local sheriff and police officers being forced to act as ICE agents. Local law enforcement should focus on community trust, deescalating troublesome situations and bringing violent criminals to justice.
03-04-2025
Dawnye Sturtz
I strongly oppose HSB 187. Local officials are not trained for ICE and we need them to handle all of our local enforcement. This bill is just wrong!
03-04-2025
Sander Cissne [Sander Cissne]
I am writing to express my firm opposition to HSB187, a bill thatwould require every law enforcement agency in Iowa to collaborate withImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This legislation posesserious risks to the safety and wellbeing of our communities andundermines the trust between law enforcement and the people theyserve.HSB187 threatens to erode the critical relationship between lawenforcement and immigrant communities. When individuals fear thatinteractions with police could lead to deportation or familyseparation, they are far less likely to report crimes, seek help, orcooperate with investigations. This creates an environment wherecriminals can operate without consequence, making our communities lesssafe for everyone.Furthermore, this legislation opens the door to racial profiling,disproportionately targeting Black, Brown, and immigrant communitiesacross Iowa. Such policies perpetuate fear, discrimination, anddivision, which run counter to the values of fairness and inclusivitythat our state should uphold. No one should feel targeted orcriminalized because of their race, ethnicity, or immigration status.I urge you to vote NO on HSB187 and to reject policies that promotediscrimination and undermine community trust. Instead, let us worktogether to build inclusive, welcoming communities where everyonefeels safe and valued. Iowa should be a place where justice andequality are prioritized, not a state that enacts harmful policiesthat divide us.Thank you for your time and for considering the voices of those whowill be most impacted by this bill. I hope you will stand on the sideof justice and community safety by opposing HSB187.
03-04-2025
Laura Locher
Please stop this polarization in our state. Please respect immigrants and people's relationships with police. Police are not immigration authorities and should not be. I cannot believe what is happening to this state that has a history of protecting people's rights. Do not do this!
03-04-2025
Marilyn Shea
I oppose House Bill 187. Local police are not immigration agents. To ask them to serve as such would only promote racial profiling and divert resources from public safety while increasing fear and distrust among our immigrant population.
03-04-2025
Phyllis Morris
I strongly oppose Rep. Steven Holt's bill requiring all Iowa law enforcement agencies to deputize local police as immigration agents. The bill would undermine community trust, increase racial profiling, and tear families apart.
03-04-2025
Michelle LeCaptain [Concerned Citizen]
STOP THIS AWFUL BILL and LEAVE MY NEIGHBORS ALONE.
03-04-2025
Taylor Toohill
Can Steven Holt just leave Iowa? He clearly hates a significant portion of the population, and it seems like it would just be easier for him to leave, rather than bullying every minority group in the state until they leave, willingly or otherwise
03-04-2025
Ruth E Westmoreland [ ]
I am writing to send my concern about HSB 187. This is a bad bill it will only do harm by racially profiling people, use local law enforcement to do work for which they are not trained, and make all Iowa less safe.Moreover,this is wrong. It is unjust and it is evil.Immigrants are becoming the scapegoats.We can do better as a society. We must do better to help the least among us.
03-04-2025
Peter Menard-Warwick
Committee Members,I am asking you to please vote against advancing the Rep. Steven Holt bill requiring local law enforcement agencies to enter 287 g agreements with ICE. Peter MenardWarwick
03-04-2025
Michelle Hernandez
I am in strong opposition of HSB 187. Passing this bill will do the following to IowaEroding Community Trust: Mandating collaboration with ICE may lead to a breakdown in trust between law enforcement and local communities. When residents fear that routine interactions could result in immigration consequences, they might hesitate to report crimes or cooperate with investigations, ultimately compromising public safety. Heightening Racial Profiling: By formalizing cooperation with ICE, law enforcement agencies might be incentivizedintentionally or unintentionallyto focus on immigrant communities. This can lead to increased racial profiling, where individuals are targeted based on appearance or ethnicity rather than actual criminal behavior, further alienating marginalized groups. Impacting Public Safety: Reduced cooperation with law enforcement due to fear of immigration enforcement can make it more difficult for police to gather information and solve crimes. This strain on community relationships may lead to less effective policing and a less safe environment for everyone. Social and Economic Consequences: Iowas economy benefits from the diverse contributions of immigrant communities. Increased racial profiling and discrimination can deter immigrant participation in civic life and economic activities, potentially impacting local businesses and community vitality. Cultural and Community Division: Iowa prides itself on its closeknit communities and Midwestern values. Policies that single out certain groups can create divisions, foster resentment, and weaken the inclusive fabric that many Iowans value.Overall, while the bill may be presented as a measure to enforce federal immigration laws, its implementation could inadvertently lead to a host of unintended consequences that disrupt community cohesion, public safety, and the economic and social wellbeing of Iowa residents.Please STOP THIS FROM MOVING FORWARD.
03-04-2025
Dennis Martin [St Joseph Church]
Please do not try and make our local law officers ice agents
03-04-2025
Elizabeth Folkers
Vote NO to HSB187! This bill would allow racial profiling of people who appear to be immigrants in the state of Iowa. Policing organizations themselves have stated over decades that deputizing police to enforce immigration law makes all communities less safe because it makes immigrants communities hesitant to report crime that has occurred and happened to them to law enforcement. Leaving law enforcement with less info to solve cases. Many statistics have shown that immigrants commit less crime than their citizen counterparts, so this bill has misplaced intentions. Please vote NO!
03-04-2025
Robert Tomanek
This bill is inconsistent with local law inforcement and opens the door for President Trump to go beyond the law by arresting even those with birth right status. I thought Republicans support local jurisdiction, rather than yielding to a king.
03-04-2025
Aliese Gingerich
Please do not advance this bill requiring local law enforcement agencies to enter 287(g) agreements with ICE. Doing so would undermine community trust, divert resources from public safety, increase racial profiling, and lead to unnecessary family separations. We've seen the results of these 287(g) agreements in the past. They lead only to increase in social stratification and injustice, NOT to increased community safety. Aliese Gingerich
03-04-2025
Keith Soko [Professor]
Please stop this terrible bill. This undermines community trust and relationships with local law enforcement. This is another Fox News/Trump type scam by Republicans to appear tough when they refused to take serious immigration reform earlier. Leave our local officers alone to do their jobs! And stop these racist bills on immigrants!
03-04-2025
Erica Finken
I OPPOSE strve holt's bill, requiring all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter "287(g)" agreements with ICE, effectively deputizing local police as immigration agentsThis would undermine community trust, divert resources from public safety, increase racial profiling, and ultimately tear families apart.
03-04-2025
Evalee Mickey [IEC]
Another crazy bill from our Iowa Legislatures. Some more ways of dividing us, causing panic in the migrant community and everyone who are engaged in helping migrants to become established in our country and become good citizens.I know police officers who are dead set against running after migrants just to satisfy the people who are racist and hateful.
03-04-2025
Michael Roberts
Do not deputize local law enforcement as immigration officers. This is an unfunded mandate that will make our communities less safe and will make immigrants who are witnesses to or victims of crimes avoid reporting them.
03-04-2025
Clare Loussaert [Iowa City Catholic Worker]
This bill is not only hateful to our immigrant neighbors, but it is simply not practical with lack of funding. Many police and sheriff offices are already strapped for resources, so an unfunded mandate cannot be properly enforced. Additionally, this bill will decrease public trust and public safety and only increase racial profiling.
03-04-2025
Margaret McCoy
I dont know about other communities, but Im almost positive our law enforcement officials are plenty busy already. I think it would be piling on additional work. This is not their job, nor were they hired for this immoral task.
03-04-2025
Nancy Miller [individual]
I oppose the bill 287g that would require all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter agreements with ICE, effectively deputizing local police as immigration agents. This bill undermined community trust, diverts resources from public safety, increase racial profiling, and ultimately tear families apart. It makes local enforcement agents of fear. Oppose this bill.
03-04-2025
Carolyn Yoder
I oppose deputizing local police officers to allow them to act as ICE agents. Their jobs are heavy enough. They are striving to do the roles tgey are demanded of them now without adding more responsibility on them. Let them focus on the work they are currently doing.
03-04-2025
Bonnie Smith [Church]
Local police should not be acting as ICE agents nor should be allowed to arrest immigrants.A bill should be introduced to HELP immigrants apply for an immediate work visa, social security card and green card. We in Iowa, need these people and they can become very good citizens.
03-04-2025
Jane Noble Davis [Iowa City Catholic Worker ]
This bill will make us ALL unsafe! Local law enforcement have no ICE training and adding more work for them leaves ALL of our families unprotected. Including YOUR families. Do NOT let this bill go any further.
03-04-2025
Brian Julin-McCleary [St. John Lutheran Church]
I serve as Pastor of a Lutheran church in Cedar Falls. Many people in this congregation have expressed frustration at the way this bill would erode public trust of local law enforcement officers whose role is distinct from that of ICE. I agree with them and ask that you reject this bill. Let our Police force and our Sherriff's office do their job while ICE does there's, but distinct from one another. Iowa will not be made better by this bill. Please vote no on any bill that would require local law enforcement agencies from entering 287(g) agreements with ICE.
03-04-2025
Bill McCoy
I do not wish for my tax dollars to pay police and other law enforcement personnel, our public servants to Donald Trump's dirty work for him. Immigrants are by and large lawabiding,hardworking, taxpaying members of our community. Trump and his ghouls are merely picking on the most vulnerable among us. Mark my words,these actions will come back to haunt us. The question you must ask yourself is: which side of history do I wish to be on?
03-04-2025
Shirley Whiteside
This bill supports racial profiling and undermines law enforcement in its work to keep us safe.It is not the right way to bring immigration reform. Immigrants are citizens in our communities. The law is unnecessary and mean spirited, and taxes an already under staffed public service.
03-04-2025
Andrew ......
And the second is like it....Love your neighbor as you love yourself. But who is my neighbor?
03-04-2025
Byron Plumley
Rep Holt is promoting legislation to use local law officers as ICE agents to arrest undocumented persons. This legislation creates fear in our communities with people of color who are legal citizens. It is not the job of local police to do ICE arrests. I can't understand why this cruel legislation is being considered. It is simply hateful and unnecessary. Do not support this legislation.
03-05-2025
Kristie VanGorkom
I am strongly against this bill. Please vote against it!
03-05-2025
Kristen Mead
I am not in support of this bill. Deputizing officers for ICE will not help communities!
03-08-2025
Adel Kessler
This is absolutely unconscionable and inhumane!!!!! No No No to this cruelty!!! Iowa is cruel and inhumane!!!
03-03-2025
Rita Carter
I ask you as House Judiciary Committee members to vote No on HSB 187 that will require local law enforcement to engage with communities as if they were ICE agents. Iam very concerned about how this will affect immigrants, refugees, migrants in Iowa and the lives they are building in Iowa communities. Local law enforcement relationships that have taken years to build with migrant families are also threatened by this bill. Let law enforcement do the jobs they were trained to do locally. This is not Iowa Nice. It is the opposite. Oppose HSB 187.
03-04-2025
Berea Kaimera
Vote NO to HSB187. We do not need our tax dollars going to this.
03-04-2025
Rebekah Jacobs
Please vote Opposed to HSB 187. This bill will significantly erode the trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities, making it more difficult for police to effectively carry out their primary responsibilities. It will also place unnecessary strain on local law enforcement resources, diverting attention from their core mission of keeping communities safe. Immigration law is a federal matter that requires specialized training, which local law enforcement officers are not equipped for. Additionally, the bill raises critical questions: Who will cover the costs of the resources needed to assist ICE? Who will fund the additional personnel required to support this effort? For these reasons, I urge you to vote no.
03-04-2025
Fred Haskins [Iowa migrant movement for justice]
Hsb 187 by making federal law enforcement paramount violates the Posse Commitatus Act of 1878 prohibiting federal authorities from enforcing state law.
Attachment
09-07-2025
Jason Miler [7Pools]
frgt
09-07-2025
Jason Miler [7Pools]
fsdgfg
09-07-2025
Jason Miler [7Pools]
fdsgfg
Permanent Link