‘We are all humans’: Immigrant workers march in Iowa City protesting 'illegal reentry' law

Reverand Guillermo Trevino of West Liberty was born in Texas to two Mexican immigrant parents.

Trevino said Monday during a march in Iowa City that he is concerned Iowa's Senate File 2340, signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in April, will devastate Hispanic families.

He believes support from the state's entire Latino population is needed.

"If this law is enacted, it would separate families and put children at risk of losing the emotional and financial support they need to survive," Trevino said on the steps of the Old Capitol building.

Roughly 100 people gathered near College Green Park and marched through Iowa City on Monday night, one of three coordinated demonstrations against government support of the "illegal reentry" law. Activists also gathered in Des Moines and Waterloo.

Iowa organization Escucha Mi Voz has orchestrated several similar marches in recent months, also gathering on May 1 . The law in question was set to take effect on July 1 but was blocked by a federal judge on June 17 .

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'We are families, not criminals'

The group marched through Iowa City shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Monday, chanting phrases used in previous protests, including "Somos familias, no somos criminales," or "We are families, we're not criminals," and "Un pueblo unido, jamás será vencido," or "A house united, will never be defeated."

Trevino led the group in prayer in both Spanish and English.

"That's why we are here today," Trevino said. "To show our power and to pray that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird put human dignity and immigrant workers first and stop defending this immoral, unconstitutional and anti-immigrant law."

Protesters donned shirts saying, "Immigrants Make America Great" and held up signs in Spanish that translated to, "Stop the deportations," "We are all humans," and "Always together."

Johnson County Supervisor Jon Green and supervisor candidate Mandi Remington also attended the march and addressed the crowd at Pentacrest.

"You are the best of Johnson County," Green said. "(And) it is my solemn duty to represent all of you and your best interests, and to stand up against a vicious, hateful state government."

More: Federal judge calls Iowa's new immigration law 'not defensible,' grants injunction

Federal judge called law unconstitutional

The "illegal reentry" law would make it a criminal offense to enter the state after being deported or denied entry from the United States. The law was blocked by a federal judge in June, determining its basis unconstitutional.

"I am disappointed in today’s court decision that blocks Iowa from stopping illegal reentry and keeping our communities safe," Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said in a statement after the law was blocked. "Since Biden refuses to secure our borders, he has left states with no choice but to do the job for him."

Iowa's law resembles a similar law passed and signed in Texas that was later banned by the courts. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher granted a temporary injunction for two cases challenging the law in May, one by the federal government and another by the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice.

More: Kim Reynolds signs Texas-style immigration law criminalizing 'illegal reentry' into Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds said the Iowa law is needed to protect Iowans from crime, human trafficking and drug overdoses.

"Plainly, the Biden administration is failing to do their job and enforce federal immigration laws allowing millions to enter and re-enter without any consequence or delay," she said.

More: Iowa City community rallies against state law that criminalizes 'illegal reentry' into state

The Des Moines Register's courts reporter William Morris contributed reporting.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: ‘We are all humans’: Immigrant workers march in Iowa City protesting 'illegal reentry' law