Iowa SF 481 (2018) prohibits cities and counties from adopting sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities; Des Moines and Polk County must honor ICE detainers or risk state funding loss.
Iowa SF 481, signed in 2018, prohibits any Iowa city, county, or law enforcement agency from adopting policies that restrict cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Local agencies must honor ICE detainer requests and cannot bar officers from inquiring about immigration status. Non-compliant jurisdictions can lose state funding. Des Moines and Polk County have policies aligned with SF 481. Des Moines Police generally do not initiate immigration enforcement during routine stops but will hold detainees on valid ICE detainers up to 48 hours. Iowa community groups have challenged the law without success.
Loss of state grant funding for non-compliant cities, possible removal of officials, civil enforcement by the Iowa Attorney General against jurisdictions adopting sanctuary policies.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no city ordinance restricting lawn ornaments on residential property. Chapter 60 (Housing) requires reasonable property maintenance and could ...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no city ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Chapter 48 (Noise) standards could theoretically apply to overnight blow...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no municipal ordinance regulating residential holiday lights. Display timing, brightness, and animation are governed primarily by HOA and cond...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines requires building permits for permanent outdoor kitchen installations with gas lines, electrical wiring, plumbing, or structural roofs under Chapt...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no smoker-specific ordinance. Open burning is regulated under Chapter 70 (Fire Prevention) and Iowa Code 100B with cooking-fire exemptions. Io...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines Fire Code under Chapter 26, Article XII adopts the International Fire Code (IFC). IFC 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas tank...
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