This past Wednesday the Iowa Senate approved a bill that would prohibit Iowa cities and counties from enacting “sanctuary” policies to provide safe havens for undocumented immigrants.

Senate File 481 would bar a local government from receiving state funds if the legislation was violated. It would require Iowa law enforcement agencies to comply with federal immigration detainer requests for persons in their custody. Senator Amy Sinclair tells KNIA/KRLS News if local law enforcement arrest someone and finds that ICE would like to have a hold on them, local law enforcement must comply with the hold request. The legislation would also prohibit local governments from discouraging local law enforcement officers or others from activities related to enforcing immigration laws.