Sign in Subscribe
Emigration and immigration

Iowa National Guard to Assist Federal Immigration Enforcement Efforts

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As part of a broader national effort to enforce federal immigration laws, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has announced that 20 members of the Iowa National Guard will be deployed to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in the state. The deployment, set to begin on September 8, is part of a larger effort by 20 states with Republican governors to provide support to ICE. This move comes as part of a push by the Trump administration to crack down on immigration.

The Iowa National Guard soldiers will provide administrative and logistical support to ICE officials, freeing up local law enforcement to focus on enforcing immigration laws outside of the office. Governor Reynolds has emphasized her commitment to working with the Trump administration and ICE in the national immigration crackdown. However, some immigrant rights advocates have expressed concerns that this action will harm Iowa's immigrant communities.

Key Takeaways:

  • 20 members of the Iowa National Guard will be deployed to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Iowa on September 8.
  • The deployment is part of a larger effort by 20 states with Republican governors to provide support to ICE.
  • The National Guard soldiers will provide administrative and logistical support to ICE officials, freeing up local law enforcement to focus on enforcing immigration laws outside of the office.
  • Governor Reynolds has emphasized her commitment to working with the Trump administration and ICE in the national immigration crackdown.
  • Some immigrant rights advocates have expressed concerns that this action will harm Iowa's immigrant communities.
  • The Iowa Department of Public Safety has signed an agreement with ICE to establish a three-person task force to carry out certain federal immigration law enforcement actions.
  • Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird pursued a lawsuit against Winneshiek County and its sheriff, Dan Marx, after he made a Facebook post saying he would not honor ICE detainer requests.

Statistics:

  • 20 National Guard soldiers will be deployed to Iowa to support ICE efforts.
  • The deployment is scheduled to begin on September 8.
  • 20 states with Republican governors are participating in the National Guard deployment effort.
  • The Iowa National Guard has been deployed to Texas to assist with state immigration enforcement efforts in 2023 and 2024.
  • The Iowa Department of Public Safety has signed an agreement with ICE to establish a three-person task force to carry out certain federal immigration law enforcement actions.

Sources:

  • [Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announces 20 National Guard soldiers will deploy to Iowa on September 8 to support ICE efforts]
  • [New York Times - "Trump Taps National Guard to Help Crack Down on Immigration" July 30, 2025]
  • [USA Today - "National Guard deployed in 20 states with GOP governors to assist ICE in deportation efforts" August 6, 2025]
  • [Tennessee Lookout - "Tennessee Governor calls up National Guard to assist ICE deportations" August 5, 2025]
  • [Virginia Mercury - "Virginia National Guard soldiers to begin training with ICE later this month" August 4, 2025]
  • [Iowa Capital Dispatch - "Gov. Kim Reynolds deploys more than 100 National Guard troops to southern border" 2023]
  • [Iowa Capital Dispatch - "Gov. Kim Reynolds deploys National Guard law enforcement to U.S. southern border in Texas" 2024]
  • [Iowa Capital Dispatch - "Iowa spent roughly $300,000 on state troopers' trip to southern border" July 28, 2021]

Read more