A federal judge in Iowa on Monday halted the state's efforts to enforce its own immigration laws.
The Iowa law would have allowed states to bring criminal charges against illegal immigrants who have been ordered deported or who have previously been refused entry into the United States.
The injunction by U.S. District Judge Steven Locher is only temporary as the Iowa bill is further litigated. Judge Locher said he believes the bill will fail because federal immigration law takes precedence over state immigration law.
“Politically, the new law may be defensible, but constitutionally it is not,” Judge Locher wrote in his decision. “Based on binding Supreme Court precedent, Senate File 2340 is fully preempted by federal law and is therefore invalid under the Supremacy Clause.”
FOX Exclusive: ICE Programs' Immigrant Appeals Surprise to Over 7.4 Million
A federal judge in Iowa on Monday halted the state's efforts to enforce its own immigration laws. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, signed an “illegal re-entry” bill into law earlier this year, following a similar law in Texas. Officials in both states have sharply criticized President Biden's handling of border policy.
Reynolds and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Byrd said the state plans to appeal the ruling.
FBI Director Wray warned about the terrorism threat posed by open borders just days before the arrests of eight ISIS suspects across the US.
“Without Biden's open border policy, Iowa would not have had to pass this law in the first place,” Byrd said in a statement after the ruling. “Instead of suing the state of Iowa for enforcing its immigration laws, he should do his duty to ensure border security.”
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, signed an “illegal re-entry” bill into law earlier this year, following a similar law in Texas. Officials in both states have harshly criticized the Biden administration's handling of border policy. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Reynolds argued that the Biden administration has left states “unprotected” against the “ongoing crisis on our southern border.”
Former FBI deputy director warns of 'huge vulnerabilities' as Border Patrol expands
“Clearly, the Biden Administration has failed to do its job and enforce federal immigration law, allowing millions of people to enter and reenter the U.S. without any consequences or delays,” she added.
U.S. District Judge Steven Locker ruled that Iowa's immigration law is blocked by a 2015 Supreme Court decision. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin, File)
Click here to get the FOX News app
The Iowa law was set to take effect July 1. The Justice Department has announced plans to consider a similar bill in Oklahoma in the coming weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news. Send your tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.