Iowa: executive order for regulators to verify US citizenship
Governor Kim Reynolds has issued Executive Order 15, which mandates that all Iowa state government departments use the federal E-Verify and SAVE systems in two key contexts: verifying employment eligibility when hiring, and confirming immigration status or U.S. citizenship before issuing professional or occupational licenses. The executive order seeks to standardize these checks across state agencies, some of which already use these systems voluntarily, and aims to ensure that individuals granted state-issued licenses or state employment are legally authorized to work. The governor said the measure will reinforce safeguards tied to public health, safety, and education responsibilities. State officials are coordinating with federal agencies to establish the logistical framework (e.g. memoranda of understanding) needed to make the systems fully operational by year’s end.