Debate Over HF 2608 Sparks Controversy in Iowa
Concerns Arise Over Implications of Proposed “Smuggling” Law
According to Iowa Starting Line in Iowa a new Republican-backed bill called HF 2608 bill is causing a lot of disagreement. It’s aimed at undocumented migrants and is making both immigration advocates and legal experts upset. This HF 2608 bill wants to check if people applying for help from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services are citizens but that’s something they already do. It also introduces a new law about “smuggling” that could make it a crime to help undocumented migrants like giving them a place to stay or driving them somewhere. Emily Sinnwell who helps migrants says this could hurt essential workers and goes against religious freedom.
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(PHOTO:
The Quad-City Times)HF 2608 Bill of Iowa: Its’ Controversy Critics Warn of Broader Impact on Undocumented Migrants and Helping Hand
Legal Experts and Advocates Criticize HF 2608 for Potential Harm to Immigrant Communities
At a recent meeting of Iowa lawmakers Ver Yang, a lawyer who knows about immigration pointed out a big problem with the smuggling part of the HF 2608 bill. Yang said that smuggling and human trafficking are different things and Iowa isn’t a border state so smuggling laws don’t really fit here. Yang also said that Iowa and the federal government already have laws against human trafficking so this new bill isn’t needed and could be harmful. Sinnwell agrees saying HF 2608 bill goes against the good work that charities and churches do to help people in need. People who don’t like HF 2608 bill are worried about what it could mean for immigrants and groups that help them in Iowa. They say the HF 2608 bill is too broad and could punish people who are just trying to do the right thing. They’re calling for lawmakers to think again about this bill and make sure it respects everyone no matter where they come from.
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