Senator Joni Ernst says trained dogs should search every vehicle driving north through border crossings along the U.S./Mexico border -- to stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs. "Dogs are about as low tech as you can get, but they are one of the best ways to find those drugs," Ernst … [Read more...]
Ernst says Mexican cartel ‘spotters’ at border should face 10 years in prison
Senator Joni Ernst says a new federal crime should be established to punish people caught working as Mexican cartel scouts along the southern border. "These spotters keep an eye open for the cartels and let them know where Border Patrol agents are," Ernst says, "so they know where and when to … [Read more...]
Hinson says Homeland Security secretary should resign
Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says President Biden's Homeland Security chief should resign. Hinson says Secretary Alejandro Mayorkis has failed to secure the southern border. "It's frustrating to me that I feel like here we are again after a year, we were giving these warnings a year ago about … [Read more...]
Ernst says AG should drop appeal of ruling that ended public transportation mask mandate
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is urging the Justice Department to drop its appeal of a ruling that struck down the mask requirement for public transportation. "Americans' decisions to wear masks should be up to them," Ernst says. "...Americans are tired of the masks. They're ready to move on and get on … [Read more...]
Reynolds says ‘people better wake up’ to southern border crisis
Governor Kim Reynolds says her trip to Texas with nine other Republican governors has given her a better understanding of the escalating humanitarian and security crisis caused by illegal border crossings. Reynolds was in McAllen, Texas, when she spoke with Iowa reporters by phone Wednesday … [Read more...]
Ernst says U.S. immigration law should specifically bar those with sex crime convictions
Senator Joni Ernst is the lead sponsor of legislation that would make it clear immigrants and refugees seeking asylum should be barred from entering the United States if they have been convicted of a serious sex crime. "Right now, the current laws on the books don't effectively target those who … [Read more...]
Iowa organization prepares for refugees from Afghanistan
Refugee resettlement agencies in Iowa are preparing for more refugees who were evacuated from Afghanistan last month. The Des Moines office of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants has already resettled one family and it expects the capacity to stretch to about 350 more Afghan … [Read more...]
Ernst and Reynolds say Iowa preparing to welcome Afghan refugees
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst say preparations are underway to help Afghan refugees settle in Iowa. Ernst has been working to secure Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans who helped the U.S. military. "We are pushing, pushing, pushing to get as many Afghans out of … [Read more...]
Reynolds may send state troopers back to Texas/Mexico border
Governor Kim Reynolds says undocumented immigrants and illegal drugs are "infiltrating" Iowa and she may send state troopers to Texas to provide border security in the future. "As the federal government effectively ignores its constitutional duty to secure our border, states must act and Iowa … [Read more...]
Pork Producers push for year-round visas for foreign born workers
An Ankeny woman who is president of the National Pork Producers Council is urging members of the U.S. Senate to reform the visa system so immigrants working as farm hands or in meat packing plants can stay permanently. "Our foreign born workforce is an essential part of our supply chain and we … [Read more...]