Iowa

‘I had only known Iowa to be my home’: bill could help ‘Documented Dreamers’

Published

2 years ago

October 18, 2022

‘I had only known Iowa to be my home’: bill could help ‘Documented Dreamers’

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A invoice making its manner by means of Congress may very well be life-changing for Iowans who come to the U.S. legally as kids, however who lose a secure immigration standing as adults.

So-called “Documented Dreamers” arrive within the U.S. because the dependents of authorized immigrants. They will keep on their mother and father’ visa till the age of 21, however then there is no such thing as a particular immigration path for them.

One in every of these Documented Dreamers is Laurens van Beek. He grew up in Iowa Metropolis because the youngster of Dutch immigrants. After turning 21, he used all of the visa choices out there to him earlier than self-deporting to Belgium in July.

On a Zoom name, van Beek described how he’s making the perfect of his life in Belgium.

“There’s lots of—my minor was in artwork historical past, so with the ability to see all the actually neat structure and all the actually cool artwork has been pleasurable,” mentioned van Beek. “I form of accepted that it’s a factor that’s going to occur, and I would as properly make use of the alternatives that I’ve whereas I’m right here and try to make it the perfect time.”

Whereas van Beek has been having fun with components of his new life, he’s nonetheless attempting to return again dwelling. “My employer has been engaged on that course of,” mentioned van Beek.

And the method will not be an easy one. “Throughout that complete course of, they should promote the place that I’m in. And mainly, if there’s an American that fills that place with the minimal {qualifications}, they take precedence over me,” mentioned van Beek.

Pareen Mhatre continues to be a pupil, learning biomedical engineering on the College of Iowa. She was born in India, however her mother and father legally moved to the U.S. when she was 4 months outdated.

“Rising up, I didn’t understand that I used to be totally different from different youngsters,” mentioned Mhatre. “I had solely recognized Iowa to be my dwelling.”

She added, “I didn’t understand I used to be totally different till about after I was making use of for schools. That’s after I realized that, due to my immigration state of affairs, I’d be thought-about a global pupil.”

In accordance with Dip Patel, founding father of Enhance the Dream, there are at the very least 1,000 folks in Iowa with conditions much like van Beek and Mhatre. There may be hope that an modification on the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act for Fiscal Yr 2023 may quickly present an answer.

“What the modification does is it permits people who’ve been right here for at the very least eight years below the age of 21….it might enable them to retain their dependent standing previous the age of 21, till their mother and father are in a position to get everlasting residency,” mentioned Patel.

The invoice has already handed the Home, and now faces the Senate.

For now the futures of van Beek and Mhatre stay unsure.

Mhatre is optimistic—”I do have hope for the top of the yr. I actually hope that the Senate can cross our answer”— however van Beek is extra cautious.

“Holding on to optimism can be not all the time the healthiest as a result of, you understand, with the tradition and the local weather across the subject, it’s very troublesome to say will this undergo,” mentioned van Beek.

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Iowa

Northwest Iowa communities preparing for potential flooding

Published

1 hour ago

June 21, 2024

Press Room

Northwest Iowa communities preparing for potential flooding

HAWARDEN, Iowa (KTIV) – The Big Sioux River at Hawarden could see some major flooding, which has spurred the community to take action.

Out in Hawarden, Iowa, volunteers and officials put together sandbags for potential flooding of the Big Sioux River. As of 12:30 p.m., the Big Sioux was at 23.5 feet, and Sioux County officials say it will crest at 36.8 feet on Sunday evening. The flood stage for the river is 20.5 and this crest will break the 35.2 feet record the Big Sioux has at Hawarden.

Several other communities like Hawarden are preparing just in case.

Another Iowa town, Akron, is anticipating the river to crest at 24.3 feet, which is getting close to its record of 25 feet. Akron officials and volunteers also plan to prepare sandbags Friday for what may come tonight and into the weekend.

Out in Rock Valley, sandbags have been delivered to the local police department and city officials are alerting residents that evacuations may be needed.

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Follow the links below to get the latest road conditions from Siouxland’s three states.

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To see the latest data from our weather team, follow the link below.

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Iowa

Cause of death revealed in case of once missing Iowa trucker David Schultz

Published

8 hours ago

June 21, 2024

Press Room

Cause of death revealed in case of once missing Iowa trucker David Schultz

SAC CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – The once missing Iowa trucker found dead on a farm in rural Sac County about two months ago died from hypothermia related to acute meth intoxication, the Sioux City Journal reports.

The report, which cites a death certificate for David Schultz, says he ingested the drug, then died when he was exposed to the cold temperatures outside.

Schultz went missing in November 2023, sparking a massive search effort.

His body was found in April 2024 in the 1900 block of Union Avenue, which is close to the location his truck was found. It’s unclear why his body wasn’t recovered sooner.

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Iowa

Election 2024: How libertarians could affect Iowa congressional races

Published

16 hours ago

June 21, 2024

Press Room

Election 2024: How libertarians could affect Iowa congressional races

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Libertarians will be on the ballot statewide for the first time since 2018.

Incumbent Republican Congressman Zach Nunn will face off against a well-funded Democrat, and now a Libertarian entering the field may make it even tougher.

Marco Battaglia says his candidacy gives voters a choice to break away from the two-party system.

“We got Polk County pretty much where people just show up and check, you know, the D next to the name. And we got a lot of the other counties where people just show up and check the R next to the name. A good goal would just to be get people thinking about those three options rather than just knowing they’re going to show up and vote for a color,” Battaglia said.

In 2022, Nunn won by 2,145 votes against Democrat Cindy Axne.

With yet another tight race on the horizon, Battaglia says he’s not worried about being labeled a spoiler.

“I think that’s a really shortsighted way of looking at politics. The sooner that Iowans and the people of the district get used to a multi-party system, a system where someone can just run as no party as an independent and have a fair race the better I think it’ll be for everyone that lives here,” Battaglia said.

Iowa State University Political Science Professor Dave Peterson says if Battaglia has any impact on the race, it would be as a spoiler.

“The margins matter, right? If the Libertarian pulls a couple of points from Nunn – if that takes him from 53 to 51, not a big deal. But if it takes him just over the edge where the Democrat, you know, has slightly more then it matters, but I think that’s unlikely. I think Nunn is likely to win this race,” Peterson said.

Peterson says the effects of a third-party candidate may be muted since Donald Trump being on the ballot will lead to higher Republican turnout.

Battaglia isn’t the only Libertarian running for Congress. In Eastern Iowa, Nicholas Gluba is running in Iowa’s 1st congressional district. In Northwest Iowa, Charles Aldrich is running in the 4th district.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Television-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.