DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Reynolds recently announced that she will deploy the Iowa National Guard to assist in mass deportations of undocumented individuals who are in the state illegally and have violated the law.

Many undocumented individuals face uncertainty ahead of January 20, the day President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.

“The thought that I have to even have this conversation causes me to lose sleep,” Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts said.

At a recent coffee chat, parents and members of the community asked what Roberts and the district are doing to assist undocumented families. Roberts said he and his team are proactively meeting with immigration attorneys.

At a recent Des Moines School Board meeting, Board Member Anna Campos read a statement on behalf of the board, taking a stand in support of its immigrant families.

“If a student in elementary, middle, or even high school goes home to an empty home with the understanding that both parents or their only caregiver has been taken, what happens to that student? And so they’re creating, preparing some power of attorneys,” Campos said.

Des Moines Immigration Attorney Ben Bergmann said there are steps individuals can take now if they’re in Iowa illegally.

“I think having updated documents is important,” Bergmann said. “Immigrants can work with their country’s consulates that are here in the U.S., depends on the country. Have all their documents saved somehow, and if it can be saved electronically, the better. Most phones will scan documents as a PDF and they should scan copies of their passports of their national IDs.”

Bergmann, who practices at the Parrish Kruidenier Law Firm, has seen an influx of new cases while taking calls from established clients.

“They want to touch base and make sure everything is okay,” he said. “It’s a matter right now that I have so many calls that I have to defer them to January that I can’t take on anymore.”

Bergmann suggests undocumented individuals working in Iowa consult an immigration attorney. And those with children or dependent parents should also consider estate planning.

“If something happens to me, you know, what are my wishes for my children,” he explained.

He also said that many of his clients work hard and stay out of trouble.

“What really has to happen is there has to be comprehensive immigration reform,” Bergmann said, “but it might take the American people to actually miss immigrants before they realize that has to happen. Cows don’t get milked without immigrants, eggs don’t get collected without immigrants, roofs don’t get fixed without immigrants, houses don’t get built without immigrants. So, you know, I guess we’ll have to see what we’re willing to put up with.”

In the meantime, Roberts entertains new ideas, but is bracing for the reality that thousands of students may be affected.

“I also remain open to hearing from community members like you,” he said at a school board meeting. “What should we be thinking about? And how can we partner and be helpful because you’re talking about probably half of our students are likely to be impacted in some way.”

Metro News: