Police are investigating racist anti-immigrant signs invoking Donald Trump in Hampton, Iowa

Hampton police say they are investigating after racist signs were taped to multiple Hispanic-owned businesses in the north central Iowa town this week.

The paper printouts, which were first reported by the Hampton Chronicle, say, “Illegal immigrant hunting permit. No bag limit. Tagging not required. Trump 2024.”

“It was reported to the Hampton Police Department that in the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 13, 2024, multiple fliers were placed on the doors of several Hispanic businesses in Hampton,” Hampton Police Chief Mark Morrison said in a statement. “We are taking this matter very seriously and are working diligently to identify the individual or individuals responsible.”

He said after the investigation is completed, the case will be forwarded to the Franklin County Attorney.

The county attorney’s office declined to comment while the case is under investigation.

Hampton, the Franklin County seat, is about 95 miles north of Des Moines and has a population of 4,300 residents.

Larry Sailer, chair of the Franklin County Republican Party, said he considers the act to be a hate crime. He said he condemns the sentiment on the posters and doesn’t believe they reflect the views of Republicans or Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

“It’s certainly nothing to promote Trump or the Republican Party. It does just the opposite,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure everybody knows that that is not how we think as far as the Republican Party in Franklin County.”

He said he went to Mi Tierra, one of the affected businesses, for lunch Wednesday to show his support to the owners and was pleased to see a packed dining room.

“I do know the city police here are doing everything they can to find this person,” he said. “Hopefully they do bring them to justice. It’s just totally uncalled for. We don’t need division. We need to work together. And the people here that have businesses that are Mexican restaurants, are hardworking people. They’ve got their hearts in the right place. They’re family people. It was just totally uncalled for. It’s just not right.”

Staff at Mi Tierra said that the restaurant’s owners saw the sign on their building Tuesday evening and that local police came by the restaurant Wednesday to speak with them about it. Business on Wednesday was good, they said.

Sailer said he does not blame Trump or his rhetoric for what was posted in Hampton.

“I’ve never understood this to be part of what he’s talking about,” Sailer said. “Of course, as Republicans, you know, we’re totally for legal immigration. I mean, that’s what built this country. We’re totally for that.”

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She is also covering the 2024 presidential race for USA TODAY as a senior national campaign correspondent. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.