T-R FILE PHOTO — A special edition of the December 13, 2006 Times-Republican after immigration officials raided Marshalltown Swift plant.

Actions during the first month of 2026 of Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) agents have raised fear and anxiety across the country, including in Marshalltown.

Protests have popped up in various locations, and a nationwide strike against work and school kicked off on Friday in response to the presence of ICE in Minneapolis and the fatal shootings of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by agents.

In Iowa, protesters gathered in Davenport, Iowa City and in Clive on Tuesday during President Donald Trump’s visit. While Marshalltown has not had any protests in response to ICE actions, the anxiety levels of residents are high, which is something law enforcement has seen.

Jones

Marshalltown Police Department (MPD) Chief Chris Jones has noticed a considerable amount but feels it is largely fueled by social media false information and speculation.

“Social media rumors have amplified our community’s anxiety,” he said. “I continually receive information that Immigration Operations are going on in our community, and the accusations are not true. By the time I can clarify the report, hundreds of individuals have already shared the information as being true. Our agency is doing everything we can to dispel these rumors as quickly as possible. We have wonderful, trusted relationships within our community to address these misconceptions as quickly as possible.”

Phillips

Marshall County Sheriff Joel Phillips has also seen increased anxiety that began several months ago due to false information spread on social media.

“My experience (is) working with federal agencies, including operations focused on criminals that do not have legal status in the United States,” he said. “Apprehension efforts are focused on removing known violent criminals, drug and human traffickers from communities, rather than large scale operations that have drawn extensive media attention recently.”

Neither of the law enforcement leaders were aware of any current or future ICE operations in Marshalltown or Marshall County. Jones did say federal immigration officials have occasionally conducted investigations in the area, but those involve correctional facilities and the court system. Phillips confirmed that since 2008, federal officers have removed detainees from the jail who have completed state or federal sentences and are subject to deportation.

Phillips added that the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has had a U.S. Marshal housing contract since 1999, which allows the jail to house federal detainees. The revenue from that agreement has been used to reduce operational costs for the jail, pay for capital improvements and provide property tax relief. In 2018, the Marshall County Jail stopped housing ICE detainees due to increasing federal standards and inspections that county jails could not realistically meet, he said.

The majority of current ICE activity in Marshall County is conducted through the jail by identifying criminals who are subject to deportation.

“Some examples are undocumented individuals who are convicted felons, have three or more misdemeanor convictions, a misdemeanor conviction for an offense that involves violence, threats, assaults, sexual abuse or exploitation, OWI, unlawful possession of a firearm or other deadly weapon, distribution or trafficking controlled substances or have previously been deported and illegally reentered the United States,” Phillips said. “This process can begin during the intake process if the arrestee is determined to be foreign born or has completed state or federal sentences or proceedings and is subject to removal from the United States. Once the immigration detainer is placed on an individual by a federal immigration officer, this begins a 48-hour authorization to maintain custody of the detainee until the custodial agency receives a federal warrant for arrest.”

‘Maintain order’

In the event of a large-scale ICE operation, both law enforcement agencies are prepared for an appropriate response. The MPD, said Jones, will maintain the safety of Marshalltown and will work within their ability to maintain order.

“We are mandated by federal and state law not to impede a federal law enforcement investigation, and our agency will cooperate within the limits and requirements of the law,” he said.

The MPD has undergone training on handling incidents of civil unrest, and staff have the necessary equipment to conduct operations and maintain positive working relationships with other law enforcement agencies.

“Our command staff has real-life experience and training in planning large-scale critical incidents,” Jones said. “The concepts in this training are universal and applicable to many situations, not specific to any particular operation. Our agency has a policy on immigration and adheres to it.”

Like MPD, the MCSO is prepared to handle civil unrest, large and small. The role of the sheriff’s office would be providing support functions and coordinating with state and federal authorities.

“Our main priority, regardless of the scale of an operation or ICE presence, is to maintain order and ensure communities are safe,” Phillips said. “With the differing opinions or positions on federal immigration laws, we are committed to upholding the law and protecting Constitutional rights of all citizens. No one has the right to destroy property or commit a crime against another person.”

Both Jones and Phillips were present and working in law enforcement during the 2006 ICE raid on Swift, now JBS. Jones was also working during the 1996 large-scale ICE raid.

“After both incidents, there were noticeable changes within our community,” he said. “The events caused considerable stress on our school district, restaurants, retail establishments and social services.”

When the 2006 raid occurred, Phillips was assigned to the patrol division at the sheriff’s office and was involved in assisting and securing the outside perimeter of the Swift property. He said there were not a lot of employees present during the operation, and for several days, the volume of people traveling in and around Marshalltown was minimal.

Whether or not ICE arrives in Marshalltown, both law enforcement leaders want residents to feel safe in contacting them and know everyone is treated equally.

“We are committed to protecting victims and witnesses of crime in our community and do not inquire into the immigration status of individuals who need our assistance,” Jones said. “If anyone has concerns regarding our service, they are encouraged to contact me anytime [at] 641-754-5774.”

Phillips assured the public that sheriff’s deputies will serve all residents professionally with respect for Constitutional rights.

“We will continue to enforce laws fairly and support the integrity of our legal systems,” he said. “This includes working with our state and federal partners that are focused on prioritizing public safety, lawful processes and identifying individuals involved in criminal activity. Our deputies do not engage in enforcement actions based on race, ethnicity or national origin.”

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.