DES MOINES, Iowa – Attorney General Brenna Bird sued Winneshiek County because the sheriff had objected to federal immigration agents presuming they could force him to take their detainees into his Decorah jail. The issue has become a showcase in growing public objections to Trump administration bullying of localities that don’t cooperate with his massive roundups of aliens for deportation. The specific issue in Winneshiek County, however, is an Iowa law, passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, to prohibit so-called “sanctuary cities.” In her lawsuit Attorney General Bird declares that Winneshiek County is ineligible to receive “any state funds” because Sheriff Dan Marx posted on Facebook hat he would not cooperate with federal immigration arrests — even though never had to act on his position. Marx supporters had seen Bird’s threats even before her suit as overreaction. The Winnesheik County Board responded earlier that Bird’s threat to pushbhe ciunty by withholdomg state funds would be unacceptable.
Earlier: Iowa GOP leaders double down on Decorah sheriff
Trump and Bird. She endorsed his candidacy. He speaks well of her.
Verbatim
Bird: “Sanctuary counties are illegal under Iowa law. Sheriff Marx was given the chance to retract his statement, follow the law, and honor ICE detainers, but he refused — even at a cost to his home county. He left us with no choice but to take the case to court to enforce our laws and ensure cooperation with federal immigration authorities.