Legislation requiring local law enforcement to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on immigration law enforcement will not advance this session, Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison said Tuesday.

Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill to require law enforcement officers to enforce immigration laws or risk up to five years in prison and a hefty fine. Under House Study Bill 285, law enforcement officers,

Iowa House Republicans moved a bill out of subcommittee a couple weeks ago that drew concerns from Iowa Latino communities and local law enforcement agencies. The bill would have required every law enforcement agency in the state to enter into a written memorandum of agreement with the United States Immigration and

All state and local law enforcement agencies in Iowa would be required to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to identify and detain immigrants who don’t have legal status under a bill advanced Thursday by Republicans on an Iowa House subcommittee.

House Study Bill 285 would make it a Class D felony for law enforcement officers, including county sheriffs, to “knowingly and intentionally” fail to comply with federal immigration officers. A Class D felony is punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine between $1,025 and $10,245.

A bill that would have required local police to partner with federal immigration enforcement activities has been tabled and likely won’t be revived during the 2025 legislative session. Iowa House Judiciary Committee Chair Steven Holt of Denison says he decided not to advance the bill because of concerns from law enforcement groups.

His administration is suddenly changing tactics after a federal judge ruled that its mass firings of probationary workers were probably illegal. In the middle of Donald Trump’s tornado of tariff announcements,

Iowa law enforcement officers could go to prison or have their professional certifications revoked if they don’t comply with federal immigration officials under a proposal in the Iowa House. The bill would make it a felony for officers who don’t comply with ICE detainer requests.