Immigration laws have been a hot topic across the country recently and in Iowa recent proposed legislation has gathered attention following a Senate approved bill from last session.

Senate File 481 would require law enforcement agencies to comply with federal immigration detainer requests for people in their custody. The bill would also bar a local government from receiving state funds if the bill’s provisions were violated. Recently the Warren County Jail was ordered to close its doors. With the closing of the Warren County Jail the amount of inmates at the Marion County jail and other area jails could increase adding strain to an already strained system. Representative Greg Heartsill tells KNIA/KRLS News the space available is irrelevant when it comes to dealing with dangerous criminals. Heartsill says if someone is a threat and is walking our streets because there is no space available, we need to address that. Experts say jailing people longer than normal could be unconstitutional. Representative Heartsill says legislators have introduced recent amendments to the bill to address and alleviate the constitutional concerns.