Iowa immigrant group is alarmed by a state lawmaker's demand for confidential information

Source: Associated Press

Iowa immigrant group is alarmed by a state lawmaker’s demand for confidential information

By HANNAH FINGERHUT
Updated 10:15 AM EDT, April 30, 2025

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa immigrant rights organization is refusing a lawmaker’s demands to turn over private details about the nonprofit’s clients, donors and members, calling it intimidation from public officials amid a national crackdown on immigration.

The directive dated Feb. 24 was sent to Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice by the chairman of the state House government oversight committee, Rep. Charley Thomson.

An attorney for Iowa MMJ rejected the demand in an April 18 response to the full committee, saying it is not a legally valid request and suggesting the letter raises serious concerns about an abuse of process.

The organization’s founding executive director, Erica Johnson, wrote to members last week describing what happened “as a reminder that we all have rights, we have each other’s backs and we will not remain silent or intimidated by threats.”

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/iowa-immigration-nonprofit-confidential-information-d2634b46d74182fbaf690369568c5445