Hiding or sheltering someone who’s in violation of federal immigration laws in order to help them illegally enter or stay in the country would be considered smuggling under a bill that is now being weighed in the Iowa Senate.
Last week, the Iowa House passed the measure 75 to 14, with both Republicans and Democrats voting for it.
Supporters of the bill say it will help prosecute those who are smuggling people and exploiting workers.
Democratic Representative Lindsay James, of Dubuque, voted for the proposal, but pointed out it could unintentionally end up harming organizations that offer social services to vulnerable groups.
“We have heard from religious communities and even some lawyers who are concerned the language of this bill may still be too broad,” James said.
To be classified as smuggling, the act would have to be done in exchange for payment or “anything of value.” Charges begin at a class C felony but can go up to class A.
*Many people expressed frustrations over sweeping cuts to federal agencies, programs and services, during Republican Senator Chuck Grassley’s town hall meeting in Northern Iowa.
Over 120 people were at the meeting Grassley held as part of his annual 99 county tour. They pressed Grassley to respond to sweeping cuts to the Department of Education, Veterans Affairs and Social Security.
Kalen Fristad said the courts are doing their job to try to reign in Trump, but asked what Grassley and other members of Congress are doing to provide oversight.
“It seems to me that Trump and his people are moving very rapidly toward a dictatorship and an oligarchy [applause …] and that’s a very, very serious matter," Fristad said.
Grassley responded that the checks and balances of the U.S. government will continue to work. The Grassley meeting was held Friday at the Franklin County Courthouse, which was so packed that people spilled into hallways.
*Additionally, President Donald Trump has taken executive action to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. While the legality of such an action is unclear, the move has the attention of the education community across the nation.
The idea of eliminating the Department of Education isn’t new in South Dakota, as Republican U.S. Senator Mike Rounds previously introduced a bill proposing to do just that. But Trump has skipped the legislative process entirely and moved unilaterally to begin dismantling the DOE, through an executive order last week.
Trump says the move increases control at the state level. Critics say it takes a wrecking ball to the education system, and will particularly hurt low-income students.
Tim Rave is a member of the South Dakota Board of Regents, the body overseeing public colleges and universities. Rave said it’s perhaps too early to tell the precise implications of Trump’s move, in terms of services to South Dakota students and federal grants that some receive.
“I think we’re watching it closely to make sure the services our students receive, the grants and laundry list of services they get, that they still will get those," Rave said.
While Rave said the board will continue advocating for students, he’s wary of potential snafus. However, he said he’s staying optimistic, so long as students are still coming first.
*In other news, the Iowa Senate will consider a bill that would offer paid parental leave to state employees.
That bill passed in the Iowa House last week.
It would give four weeks of paid leave to state employees who give birth and one week to non-birthing parents. Adoptive parents would get four weeks. State workers currently have to save up vacation time to get paid while caring for a new child.
Democratic Representative Sami Scheetz said the bill is a good first step, but it doesn’t go far enough to compete with benefits offered in the private sector
“But I do again think this is a good first step because these people need leave, they need to be able to spend time with their newborns," Scheetz said,
The bill passed 87 to 2, with two Republicans voting against it. This is the third year in a row that Reynolds has proposed the bill.
