The Trump administration has initiated a move to dismiss lawsuits filed against Iowa and Oklahoma concerning state laws that criminalize undocumented immigration. These lawsuits were originally submitted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Biden administration in 2024, challenging Iowa’s Senate File (SF) 2340 and Oklahoma’s House Bill (HB) 4156. The DOJ argued that these state laws violated the US Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and Foreign Commerce Clause.
According to the DOJ, both SF 2340, which establishes a state crime for unlawful reentry, and HB 4156, which creates a state crime for unlawful entry, reentry, and presence, usurp the federal government’s exclusive right to regulate immigration policies. This assertion reflected prior judgments, such as in Arizona v. United States, which emphasized that decisions on immigration must align with federal law, as they pertain to foreign relations.
The decision to dismiss these lawsuits has been met with approval by officials in both states. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond expressed his support, highlighting the need to enforce HB 4156 as a measure to ensure the safety and security of state residents. Similarly, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird applauded the move, interpreting it as President Trump’s commitment to state security.
For further details on these developments, the full article can be accessed through JURIST.