The Iowa House has passed a package of immigration-related proposals affecting state government, private businesses and criminal defendants who are in the country illegally.
The legislation also calls for an oath of citizenship to be included on voter registration forms.
The bill adopts the governor’s executive order into law, requiring all state agencies to verify that employees and anyone granted a state license are eligible to work in the United States.
Iowa’s three state universities, along with all public and private K-12 schools, would be required to conduct the same verification.
The measure creates new penalties for businesses that knowingly hire people who have provided a false Social Security number.
The bill, which passed on a 78-16 vote, would deny bail to anyone arrested for a serious crime in Iowa who cannot prove they are a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
