By Nick El HajjKyle Werner, Des Moines Register
More than 100 people gathered in the Iowa Capitol rotunda to protest anti-immigrant rhetoric among legislators and a trio of bills they say would restrict access and rights for immigrants while sending the wrong message about who belongs in Iowa.
The rally, organized by Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, brought together immigration advocates, faith leaders and students for the group’s annual advocacy day on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
Most attendees wore bright orange shirts with the Iowa MMJ logo, and some had Ash Wednesday crosses marked on their foreheads. Volunteers passed out whistles, stickers and a one-page action sheet detailing the legislation the organization is urging lawmakers to reject.
Chants of “Iowa is home,” “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here” and “Love, not hate, makes Iowa great” echoed through the halls as speakers took turns addressing the crowd.
Vanessa Marcano-Kelly, Iowa MMJ’s board president, said the group’s goal was to ensure immigrants and refugees feel empowered to engage in the legislative process.
“We want to make sure that people are informed and educated about their rights and the fact that they can participate in a democracy and they can speak to their legislators,” she told the Register after the protest, adding, “And there are things that are happening in this Statehouse that are going to affect them directly.”
The organization’s action sheet highlights three bills.
- SSB 3169, which would require state departments and professional license boards to use the E-Verify system, “would harm lowa workers by relying on a faulty federal database which would worsen lowa’s workforce shortages,” according to the group.
- HSB 668, which would eliminate required affirmative actions reports from state departments, school districts, and others, “eliminates decades of equal opportunity safeguards and will harm lowa by making our state less welcoming,” MMJ said.
- HSB 663, which would create a presumption that any undocumented immigrant arrested in Iowa for a crime other than a simple misdemeanor is a flight risk and should not be granted bail, “is redundant, government overreach, creates a two-tiered justice system and relies on federal verification systems that are prone to errors,” MMJ said.
Marcano-Kelly, who said she is from Venezuela and became a U.S. citizen in 2019, argued that the proposals under consideration would have broad consequences.
Lawmakers, she said, “should focus on helping Iowans, focus on affordability and other issues, instead of using immigrants as an excuse for something that doesn’t really align with Iowa values.”
Marcano-Kelly framed the debate as one about the state’s identity.
“Historically, Iowa has been a place that has welcomed immigrants, we are characterized by being nice to our neighbors and so we are trying to tell them, remember that, go back to basics and remember what Iowa is really about,” she said.
She added that Iowa MMJ wants legislators to “stop the bad bills, the anti-immigrant sentiment that is really not characteristic of who we are.”
Iowa MMJ provides low-cost immigration legal services, including assistance with green card adjustments and refugee cases, through Department of Justice-accredited representatives and attorneys. The organization also conducts civic education and advocacy efforts aimed at helping immigrants understand and exercise their rights.
Among those attending was Ayanna Reckman, 25, a senior elementary education major at the University of Northern Iowa, who said she skipped class to be at the Capitol.
“I decided to kind of skip classes today and come advocate for Iowa in the community, because Iowa is so rich in diversity, and a lot of the labor force is built off the backs of immigrant workers,” Reckman said. “… Iowa deserves to cultivate diversity and not hate.”
Stay in the know with stories that matter — visit HolaAmericaNews.com for the latest news, culture, and community updates!
Facebook Comments