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Newscast 1.23.2025: Sioux City police will not stop people to determine legal status; Count underway of unhoused people in Sioux City; Iowa hands-free mobile device while driving bill debated

This image is from the Sioux City Police Department website.
This image is from the Sioux City Police Department website.

Mass deportations remain a possibility in Iowa, and Sioux City Police Department officials are seeking to quell the growing anxiety that some residents are feeling.

Governor Kim Reynolds has told law enforcement personnel across the state to prepare to support any federal effort. That puts local departments on alert, but doesn’t mean they’ll be acting independently of state or federal agencies.

Sioux City Police officials on Thursday said the issue of immigration enforcement and deportations has created anxiety and uncertainty among many residents. They issued a statement to reduce fear and pinpoint what they will and will not do.

It says that even though Sioux City is not a sanctuary city, officers do not and will not ask about immigration status when dealing with residents, because to do so might silence victims and witnesses. Further, city officers will not stop and detain residents only to determine their status.

The statement goes on to say, “Regardless of any federal or state administration initiatives or policies, we will always take a commonsense approach to their mandates.”

In Black Hawk County, Sheriff Nate Neff says if state or federal level departments require help, his department will provide it, but it won’t be going out of its way to make arrests.

If they need assistance, we’re not going to leave another agency hanging. We’ll help out as needed, but we’re certainly not going to be actively going out, looking to arrest people to deport. That’s not on my agenda whatsoever,” Neff said.

Neff adds that his department doesn’t have the personnel or funds to undertake any deportation operation without assistance.

Immigration advocates warn against spreading or exaggerating unverified information about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, activity in the state. They say it elevates fears in immigrant and refugee communities.

*In other Sioux City news, city officials on Wednesday and Thursday were carrying out activities to get a clear count of the number of homeless people.

The city’s Neighborhood Services Division had many volunteers carrying out that task, as the so-called point-in-time count is an annual count required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The count will not only attempt to pinpoint the number of unhoused people who need services, but also help determine how much federal funding comes to the city to help the people.

As first reported by KTIV News, the count is taken each January on a cold day, and on Thursday the high temperature is less than 20 degrees. Last fall, an official with The Warming Shelter that houses homeless people told Siouxland Public Media that the estimate for the last few years was that just under 300 such people were in the city.

Along with the count, blankets and food were given to unhoused people as part of the initiative.

*Additionally, using cellphones for anything while driving could soon be illegal in Iowa.

Some bills have sought that in recent years, and the latest hands-free measure that passed through an Iowa Legislature subcommittee makes exceptions for emergencies and for certain professions, like healthcare workers.

People are also allowed to use their phones if they’re in hands-free or voice-activated mode, or if the vehicle is at a complete stop away from traffic.

Judi Collora of Mount Pleasant testified in support of the bill. In 2023, her daughter was struck and killed by a distracted driver.

“There should never be any young person or any person in this state that has to lose their life because someone chooses to text instead of drive. Driving is the privilege, and to choose to text instead of drive puts other people at risk,” Collora said.

Bicyclists, motorcyclists and people from the Department of Public Safety and the State Troopers Association attended in support of the bill. No groups were registered or voiced opposition against the measure.

*In other legislative news, Iowa high schoolers could be required to pass the U.S citizenship test in order to graduate, according to a bill that passed through a House subcommittee on Wednesday.

The test would consist of multiple-choice questions selected from the list of 100 potential questions. Students would be allowed to retake the test.

Critics of the bill say they support teaching the content, but mandating the test would create a barrier to graduation.

Margaret Buckton is a lobbyist with the Urban Education Network and Rural School Advocates. She says there should be more local control in how the test is administered.

“How do we have rigorous, relevant and engaging instruction for students? And multiple choice tests are not the way that you do that. It's through project-based work and really thoughtful approach to understanding content,” Buckton said.

Supporters of the bill say the test would make sure students know basic civic education.

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