MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — Iowa Republicans in the house and senate greenlighted a bill that would give local police officers some of the duties of border patrol.

Senate File 2340 would make it illegal for an undocumented immigrant who commits a crime and has been denied admission to or has been excluded, deported or removed from the United States to be in the state of Iowa.

Republican leadership acknowledged last week that the state has limited authority when acting on issues the federal government should tackle. But, as many conservatives in the statehouse view the Biden administration’s handling of the border as ineffective, state lawmakers wanted to pass legislation that is similar to Texas’ controversial law.

One local police department understands that the crisis at the border needs to be tackled. But the chief is concerned about the ability of Iowa police entities to enforce what could be a new state law.

“It just seems like something that is being sold to us as a solution that’s just going to make things worse for us here locally,” said Chief Michael Tupper with the Marshalltown Police Department. “And we need comprehensive immigration reform in this country, but it has to be done in Washington, D.C. My job is to keep the city of Marshalltown safe, and in order to do that we need everybody in the community willing to work with us, talk to us, call us when they need help.”

Chief Tupper said his officers have worked extremely hard to create bridges with members of the community and he worries now that if this bill is signed into law by the governor, year’s of work will be burned.

There is also the worry about available funding for the enforcement of this new law and how local law entities would be able to handle it.

“It’s a whole area of training that I’ve never had in my 32 years of law enforcement. So we’re just going to have to figure all that out. Again, I understand my responsibility is to enforce the law and we’ll do our best,” said Tupper.

The bill would take effect on July 1, 2024 when the governor signs it into law.