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Iowa City considers adopting sanctuary status for undocumented immigrants
A group in Iowa City, Iowa, is trying to create the first sanctuary city for illegal immigrants in the state, according to the Des Moines Register.
In a sanctuary city, illegal immigrants can call the authorities if they are a victim of or witness to a crime without fear of being deported. Illegal immigrants who commit a crime, however, are not offered any protections.
"That's the misconception with a sanctuary city, that it's a haven for criminals, and that's not the case," Police Chief Sam Hargadine told the source.
Rev. Rudolph Juarez, a member of the Sanctuary City Committee that advocates for Iowa City's change in status, told the source that the group is "talking about purely civil and human rights."
The proposal currently has the backing of the city's chief of police as well as at least one city council member. The city council plans to address the proposal at a future session.
Foreign nationals looking to gain legal status may be interested in the EB-5 visa program, which awards green card eligibility to foreigners who make a $1 million ($500,000 in certain regions) investment in an American company that leads to the creation or preservation of at least 10 jobs.