State lawmaker calls for disclosure of confidential information from Iowa immigrant group
No-holds-Barred Report:
Des Moines, Iowa Goes Nuclear over Immigration Debate
It's getting hot in Des Moines, and not just because of the spring weather. An Iowa immigrant rights group is trading blows with the state government, refusing to hand over sensitive data about its clients, donors, and members. The grinding gears of political power are showing no signs of slowing down, as the issue of immigration continues to fuel an escalating battle.
The initial volley came from Rep. Charley Thomson, a Republican and chairman of the state House government oversight committee. In a letter dated February 24th, Thomson demanded the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (MMJ) turn over their books, claiming they may have material relevant to the committee's investigation. An attorney for MMJ swiftly sent back a dismissive response on April 18th, deeming the request legally invalid and raising red flags about potential intimidation tactics from public officials.
Erica Johnson, founding executive director of MMJ, penned a fiery missive to members last week, likening the situation to a scene straight out of a dystopian novel. "We all have rights, we have each other's backs, and we will not remain silent or intimidated by threats," she declared.
Our investigative team has obtained copies of both the directive and the organization's response. Thomson remained as tight-lipped as a clam when reached out for comment, refusing to engage with our specific inquiries.
The story doesn't end there, as House Democrats reported that approximately 10 entities, both private and public, received similar demands for information. No other entity works directly with migrant, immigrant, or refugee communities, with some being educational institutions.
Democratic Representative Elinor Levin voiced her concern, stating, "This does not, to me, read as the highest priority for our government oversight committee — particularly in a moment when our refugee and immigrant communities are in crisis."
Cracking Immigration: Rotten Apples or Rotten System?
The pressure on MMJ comes as the Trump administration pushes to strengthen and broaden immigration enforcement. Republican governors have been eager to offer their full cooperation, leading to a surge of fear within immigrant communities.
The organization found itself right in the middle of the fray, speaking out against lawmakers' proposals like the one that would require local law enforcement to work directly with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Johnson believes that the letter from Thomson is merely a part of an "off the charts" wave of attacks against nonprofits and those working in immigrant and legal services.
"It seems like everyday we say to ourselves, 'Oh my God, how could it get worse?'" she exclaimed. "And then it does."
As federal immigration officials move to enforce a registry of people in the U.S. illegally, it's unclear if similar requests are being made to immigration organizations across the country.
The Battle for Transparency
The letter from Thomson cites a chapter of Iowa law that outlines the powers of legislative committees, including performing "in-depth studies of governmental matters." Committees are also granted the power to launch investigations with subpoena authority, but only with the approval of the entire chamber.
In response to our questions about the committee's purview, a spokesperson for the Iowa House Republicans – who make up a majority of the chamber – declined to comment. To date, the House has not passed a resolution approving an investigation.
Although Thomson's letter doesn't explicitly cite a specific inquiry, itwarns that failure to comply could result in severe consequences, including fines and potential criminal liability. What's more, the letter forbids MMJ from discussing the matter or notifying anyone about the information request.
Levin expressed her doubts about Thomson's ability to issue such a gag order, calling it an "aggressive tactic" aimed at intimidating people.
Targeting the Underdog
Thomson's letter demands that MMJ disclose the legal services they've provided, by whom, and to whom. It also requests the names and addresses of donors and members. Although the tax-exempt organization is required to submit annual disclosures to the IRS and biennial reports with the Iowa Secretary of State, privacy rights and confidentiality considerations for clients and donors may negate the legality of disclosing such information.
Paul Thelen, director of a nonprofit resource center at the University of Iowa College of Law, emphasized the importance of maintaining confidentiality. "Think for a moment about schools, hospitals, or legal service organizations sharing the names of students, patients, or clients," he said. "To make this information public would potentially violate legal and professional expectations of confidentiality and privacy."
Established in 2020, Iowa MMJ describes itself as a "statewide, membership-based legal service and advocacy organization," led by immigrants, refugees, and their allies. The organization operates legal clinics in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Storm Lake, among other communities with a large immigrant population.
On top of its advocacy work, MMJ has also sued the state over its immigration law enacted last year, making it a state crime for a person to be in Iowa if they are in the U.S. illegally. IRS filings for the tax-exempt organization show it received more than $900,000 in contributions in 2022. MMJ also revealed that it receives roughly 7% of its budget from a victims assistance grant distributed by the state Attorney General's office and abides by its reporting requirements.
"We don't understand what the basis of the letter is," Johnson said, "Why do they think they have jurisdiction to tell a private non-profit organization to hand over all this information? As far as we can tell, they don't."
And so, the battle rages on, as both sides stand firm in their convictions. Will the dust settle, or will the confrontation erupt into open warfare? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
- The escalating immigration debate in Des Moines has led to a heated standoff between an immigrant rights group and the state government, with the organizations refusing to hand over sensitive data to a government oversight committee.
- As the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement, organizations like the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (MMJ) find themselves in the crosshairs, with MMJ speaking out against proposals that would require local law enforcement to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- The media's coverage of MMJ's dispute with the Iowa government highlights the complex issues surrounding immigration, policy, and legislation, as well as the role of politics and general news in shaping public opinion on these matters.
- The demand for sensitive data from MMJ raises questions about transparency and the boundaries of government investigations, with some organizations concerned about potential intimidation tactics and violations of privacy rights and confidentiality considerations for clients and donors.
