IMMIGRATION
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Opinion: In the wake of Tyson, let’s rethink Iowa’s immigration stance
In Iowa, we often pride ourselves on our resilience and self-reliance. However, the truth is our state’s prosperity heavily depends on, both documented and undocumented, Black and Brown immigrants. The looming impact of the Tyson plant closure in Perry and the recent shutdown of West Liberty Foods underscores a stark reality: Without our immigrant workforce,…
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The fight against ‘clearly unconstitutional’ Iowa immigration law
Recent Iowa immigrants and allies are still fighting against an Iowa immigration law they say unfairly discriminates against and targets them. Lawyers with the US Department of Justice and the American Immigration Council argued in court Monday that a judge should stop SF 2340 from going into effect July 1. The law would allow state…
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Advocates file suit to stop Iowa’s ‘unconstitutional’ immigration law
Immigration advocates filed a federal lawsuit Thursday to stop Iowa’s new immigration law—SF 2340—from taking effect arguing that the legislation creates new crimes for anyone in Iowa who has been deported in the past even if they are here legally now. A hearing date has not been set yet. The lawsuit was filed in the…
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Iowa Latinos rally to oppose new ‘unjust’ law targeting their community
Iowa’s new anti-immigrant law is based on a Texas law that some argue is unconstitutional Jose Alvarado wasn’t shocked when Republicans in the Iowa Legislature passed a bill targeting Iowa’s immigrant community, or when Gov. Kim Reynolds signed it into law. “I wasn’t surprised because I know the governor doesn’t have a good feeling about…
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Advocates speak out against Iowa’s anti-immigration bills
As far as Cecilia Martinez is concerned, they are very much an Iowan despite what some Iowa lawmakers may think. Martinez, 27, moved from Mexico to Iowa when they were 1-year-old. They were educated in Iowa schools from kindergarten through college and continue to live, work, and advocate for various causes while residing in the…
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‘Scary’: Iowa Latinos concerned about GOP bill to limit access to higher education
Ari Davis of Des Moines serves as a TA and Survivor Services Coordinator for the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, a position that allows her to help survivors of sexual assault and one she would not be in if not for a college education. “If I was not able to get in-state tuition, I would…
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8 Diwali celebrations across Iowa to check out this month
Diwali, known as the festival of lights, is a huge celebration in India and among Indian folks around the world. That includes Iowans of Indian descent, who bring some light into our dark fall nights with celebrations across the state this month. What is Diwali? Briefly, the holiday is a celebration of the legends of…
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Thrane: Day Of The Dead Isn’t Just Mexican Halloween
With Halloween around the corner, I can’t help but think about the other celebration I grew up with: Day of the Dead. For some Latin American cultures, including my own, the celebration has a very different meaning. “El Día de Los Muertos” or Day of the Dead is an ancient tradition that dates to the…
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Padre Fabian Is A Pillar In Des Moines Latino Community
Padre Fabian Moncada impacts the lives of many from the pulpit of Our Lady Of The Americas, the iconic Catholic church on the east side of Des Moines. For decades, the parish has been considered a spiritual home for Latinos, and Padre Fabian, 49, has led the congregations since 2015. My first memory of meeting…
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Thrane: Let’s Make Iowa’s Afghan Evacuees Feel Welcome
The US military planes left Afghanistan on Aug. 30 after 20 years, marking the end of the longest war in American history. It was heart-wrenching to watch the images on TV of thousands of desperate Afghans trying to escape their country. Fortunately, nearly 37,000 Afghan evacuees will resettle in the US as part of the…
