Iowa

Activists in Iowa City protest state-level immigration law

Published

2 years ago

July 2, 2024

Activists in Iowa City protest state-level immigration law

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Activists across Iowa protested a state immigration law that was set to take effect July 1.

The law would allow law enforcement to file criminal charges against people with outstanding deportation orders or who previously had been denied entry to the U.S.

The law is currently not in effect due to a court challenge.

Max Villatoro was one of the people at the Iowa City rally to oppose SF 2340 on Monday night. He was there even though, in a way, he said he has nothing to fear from this law. That’s because deportation, the worst thing he could imagine, is something he’s already been through.

“They call [it] separation of family, but I will say it’s like destruction of family,” said Villatoro.

Villatoro was deported in 2015. He missed seven and a half years of his kids’ lives.

“When I came back, they’re already grown up, both of them.”

He is now in the U.S. legally, has a work permit, and is making progress toward being a permanent resident.

Critics of this new law worry that people like Villatoro— people who are here legally but who have been deported before—would be in danger of being removed from the country again.

“It would put people at risk who have been deported or have previously been removed from the country, of being removed again,” said Yaneli Canales, Villatoro’s niece.

Critics also say the law would encourage racial profiling. Manny Galvez said he’s a citizen, but he believes that’s not what a police officer would assume.

“It’s going to be so scary, because what they’re going to see in my face—they’re going to see my face, my skin, [and] most likely, they’re going to think I don’t have a document,” said Galvez.

Finally, critics echoed the judge who put the law on pause by saying federal immigration law preempts anything on the state level.

“Iowa cannot deport people. This is a federal issue,” said Galvez.

“We need to fix the immigration situation in this country. And the best [solution] is immigration reform,” he added.

TV9 reached out to Governor Kim Reynolds’ office to get a statement in response to this story. A representative shared the following:

“As the Attorney General’s office argued, the illegal re-entry legislation does not affect those who are in the country legally. The legislation makes it a state crime, just as it is federally, to re-enter Iowa if an individual has been denied admission or deported before, or left the country while under order of deportation. Every state is now a border state because of the Biden Administration’s open border policies.”

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Related Topics:Escucha Mi Voz Featured Iowa City protest Iowa immigration Iowa immigration law KCRG news SF2340

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Iowa

Jada Williams among eight Iowa State players headed to transfer portal

Published

12 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Jada Williams among eight Iowa State players headed to transfer portal

Iowa State’s first-round exit from the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament has triggered a mass exodus, with a reported eight players leaving the team to enter the transfer portal.

Junior forward Addy Brown announced her decision to “move on” from Iowa State and enter the transfer portal in a social media post on Tuesday, March 24.

“This decision comes after a lot of thought about my future and goals,” Brown wrote in a post shared to social media. “While it’s never easy to move on, I believe this is the right step for me and I’m excited for what’s ahead as I continue to grow and chase my dreams.”

By Thursday, March. 26, several other players followed suit. Junior guard Jada Williams confirmed she’ll be “pursuing my dreams elsewhere” for her senior season. She added in a social media post, “Iowa State will always have a place in my heart and I’ll never forget the Iowa State way.”

Williams transferred to Iowa State for the 2025-26 season after playing for Arizona for the first two years of her career. William averaged career-highs in points (15.3), assists (7.7) and field goal percentage (41.7) in her lone season at Iowa State.

Iowa State freshman guard Reese Beaty, freshman guard Freya Jensen, sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, sophomore guard Aili Tanke, junior forward Alisa Williams and junior center Lilly Taulelei all intend to enter the transfer portal, according to On3’s Talia Goodman.

The transfer portal opens on Monday, April 6, following the NCAA Tournament championship game on Sunday, April 5.

Could Iowa State junior center Audi Crooks be next? Crooks declined to answer whether she would return next season following Iowa State’s 72-63 loss to Syracuse on Saturday, March 21. She instead said, “We’re all still processing everything and just being there for each other right now is the priority. That’s the main thing, making sure everybody is mentally OK through this tough time.”

Crooks had 37 points (17-of-25 FG) and five rebounds in the losing effort against Syracuse.

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@usatoday.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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Iowa

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24 hours ago

March 26, 2026

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Iowa

Iowa law enforcement issues thousands of citations under hands-free driving law

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Iowa law enforcement issues thousands of citations under hands-free driving law

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Law enforcement has issued thousands of citations since Iowa’s hands-free driving law went into effect, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The law went into effect in July 2025, prohibiting using phones while driving unless in hands-free mode. Citations started on January 1.

Since then, officers have issued over 2,400 citations and over 1,900 warnings.

The violation is a moving violation in Iowa, with a fine of $170.

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