Social media on Wednesday was rampant as a source of misinformation, in sharing that a raid by federal immigration officials was happening or imminent at a Sioux City business.
Siouxland Public Media News checked at that business, and there was no presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other law enforcement present.
Such rumors in the metro have been circulating about ICE concerted raids since President Donald Trump took office in January, with a promise of strict immigration law enforcement.
Those social media discussions on Wednesday may have been spurred by the fact that ICE enforcement actions occurred at a plant in Omaha on Tuesday.
ICE said in the release that it detained more than 70 undocumented workers during the raid, which it called the largest in Nebraska since President Donald Trump was reelected. It also appeared to be the largest raid in the state since 133 people were arrested at a tomato greenhouse and packing plant in 2018.
After that action, Republican Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen in a statement said, “Under the Biden Administration, the country’s immigration policy absolutely failed the American people for four years. We have to address the issue of illegal immigration, and I support the work of our federal partners to ensure that the law is followed and I remain supportive of President Trump’s efforts to secure the border.”
In a Thursday release to Siouxland Public Media News, Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan said county officials have been working with ICE on enforcement and are currently housing some people in the jail. He did not respond to other questions for more details on the number of inmates and other related topics.
*In other news, the Republican Speaker of the Iowa House said a special legislative session should be held in the attempt to override a veto of Governor Kim Reynolds on a pipeline bill.
Reynolds, who is also a Republican, on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have made it harder for companies to use eminent domain powers to build carbon capture pipelines and other energy infrastructure.
Landowners opposing the use of eminent domain for the Summit Carbon Solutions CO2 pipeline have pushed for years to get a bill passed that would prevent the company from taking part of their land.
Opponents of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline are angry with Reynolds for vetoing a bill that would have put limits on carbon capture pipelines.
Reynolds says the proposal would have undermined many different kinds of pipeline Peg Rasmussen is a Summit pipeline opponent from Montgomery County.
“A true leader steps in when a problem arises and you Gov. Reynolds did nothing. The legacy you leave behind is one of bowing down to big business at the expense of Iowans,” Rasmussen said.
In her veto message, Reynolds says the bill that passed last month goes too far, and even threatens pipelines that are built with voluntary agreement with landowners. She says the bill would’ve applied to other types of pipelines as well, and would put Iowa at a disadvantage compared to other states.
It’s not likely that the Iowa Senate will have enough votes to override the veto.
In a release, Grassley said he has “sent a request to all members to sign a petition to reconvene the legislature in a special session to override the Governor's veto.”
*Additionally, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said Wednesday that he supports the Trump administration decision to federalize National Guard troops to California in response to protests.
At the same time, some people fear this activation sets a troubling precedent.
Amid large protests in Los Angeles tied to Trump administration immigration policy, Jackley said he supports the decision to activate the National Guard, which California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has roundly criticized.
Jackley said his legal priorities boil down to maintaining order and protecting property. This incident is the first time in 60 years the President has intervened to mobilize a state National Guard without the consent of the associated governor.
*Additionally, Governor Reynolds says the state is working to try and help students impacted by the closure of two Job Corps residential centers in Iowa.
Last week, a judge temporarily blocked a plan by the Trump administration to cut the Job Corps program. A hearing on the issue has been scheduled for June 17.
Reynold says four state departments are looking to see if some of the students could benefit from existing programs.
Reynolds says her top priority is helping students who were in foster care before attending a Job Corps location in either Denison or Ottumwa.
*Gas prices in Iowa have moved up and down over the last four weeks in Iowa, with slight increases over the last two weeks of May, and then small drops the first two weeks of June.
Over those four weeks combined, the average price for self-serve unleaded moved up from $2.90 per gallon on May 21 to nearly $3, and then down to $2.92 on June 11.
That statewide gas price is down 23 cents compared to one year ago in Iowa, and also is lower than the national average unleaded price of $3.12.
Earlier this spring, Iowa prices dropped for six weeks in a row from early April through the second week of May. Many Siouxland stations are currently selling unleaded in the range from $2.65 to $2.99.
