Introduction: A Republic Under Siege
In Iowa, the heartland of America, a crisis is unfolding that strikes at the core of our free republic. From 2021 to 2024, the Biden administration’s border policies unleashed a surge of unvetted migrants into the United States, a deliberate act some call an invasion aimed at eroding citizen sovereignty. This national travesty has hit Iowa hard, with nearly 46,000 international migrants arriving during those years, many without proper vetting, according to U.S. Census data. The lack of oversight has endangered communities, violated constitutional rights, and fueled a state-level response marked by government overreach. At the forefront of this battle are Sheriff Dan Marx, who stands firm on constitutional principles, and Gary Shawver, a citizen demanding accountability. Their fight against the Iowa immigration crisis in 2025 offers a rallying cry for citizens to reclaim their liberty and protect the last bastion of freedom.
The Biden Administration’s Role: A Surge of Unvetted Migrants
The Biden administration’s border policies from 2021 to 2024 facilitated a massive influx of undocumented migrants, threatening the sovereignty of the citizenry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported nearly 11 million migrant encounters at the borders during Biden’s presidency through December 2024, a figure that includes millions expelled but excludes an estimated 2.2 million “gotaways” who evaded detection, as noted by House Republicans. This totals approximately 13.2 million undocumented entries over four years, a scale that former Trump deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller described as “pure evil” on X. Critics argue that Biden’s policies, such as the Humanitarian Parole program and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations, were designed to overwhelm the system, with over 600,000 Venezuelans granted TPS by 2023 and 500,000 migrants entering under a sponsorship process later targeted for revocation by the Trump administration in 2025.
In Iowa, the impact was stark. Between 2021 and 2024, the state saw a net gain of 45,893 international migrants, with annual increases of 10,340 in 2022, 16,114 in 2023, and 19,439 in 2024, according to U.S. Census data. Gary Shawver, a Wadena resident, warned of the dangers in his January 2020 and September 2021 letters to Governor Kim Reynolds, demanding state-level vetting—background checks and health screenings—to protect Iowans. His concerns went unanswered, reflecting a broader failure to address the risks posed by unvetted migrants, including potential criminal elements like the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which has been linked to violence nationwide.
Political Agendas and the Erosion of Civic Structure
The scale of this unvetted migrant surge has fueled accusations of political motivations aimed at undermining the republic. Tom Homan, former acting director of ICE under Trump, stated in March 2025 that the Biden administration’s border policies were a “scheme to boost Democratic voters,” a sentiment echoed on X where users described the millions of unvetted entries as a deliberate attempt to dilute the voting power of citizens. This aligns with a broader narrative of a globalist agenda to demoralize the populace, erode civic structure, and dismantle the constitutional framework that ensures government derives “its just powers from the consent of the governed,” as stated in the Declaration of Independence.
Iowa’s state government, despite its anti-immigration rhetoric, became complicit in this crisis. Governor Kim Reynolds deployed Iowa National Guard troops to Texas in 2021, 2023, and 2024 as part of Operation Lone Star, diverting resources while failing to address the unvetted migrants entering Iowa. Shawver, in his March 2025 letter, called this a betrayal of her oath to protect Iowans, arguing that the state’s focus on political optics left local communities vulnerable. The state’s legislative actions further entrenched the problem: Iowa Code Chapter 27A, passed in 2018, mandated cooperation with ICE detainer requests, while Senate File 2340 (SF 2340), signed by Reynolds on April 10, 2024, made it a state crime for previously deported individuals to be in Iowa. Although SF 2340 was blocked by a federal court in June 2024 for usurping federal authority—a ruling upheld in January 2025—it reflected a pattern of state overreach that ignored constitutional limits like the Supremacy Clause (Article VI).
Sheriff Dan Marx: A Constitutional Stand Against Overreach
In Winneshiek County, Sheriff Dan Marx emerged as a defender of liberty amid this crisis. On February 4, 2025, Marx announced that his office would not comply with ICE detainer requests without judicial warrants, citing their unconstitutionality under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable seizures without probable cause. His stance, rooted in his oath to uphold the U.S. and Iowa Constitutions, was supported by Winneshiek County’s Charter (Iowa Code Section 331.301), which grants sheriffs discretionary authority. Marx’s defiance challenged the state’s complicity in the unvetted migrant surge, prioritizing due process over administrative overreach.
The state’s response was swift and punitive. On February 5, 2025, Reynolds sent a letter to Marx and the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors, threatening to cut state funds under Chapter 27A and filing a complaint with Attorney General Brenna Bird. In a campaign letter dated prior to March 5, 2025, Reynolds boasted of her actions, but Shawver called this a “campaign stunt” to align with Trump’s deportation policies. On March 5, 2025, the legislature introduced HSB 285, proposing a Class D felony for officers who fail to comply with Chapter 27A, with penalties of up to five years in prison—a direct attack on Marx’s constitutional stand.
The Dangers to Liberty and Community Safety
The unvetted migrant surge, facilitated by Biden’s policies and Iowa’s complicity, poses profound threats to liberty and community safety:
- Constitutional Violations: The Fourth Amendment and Iowa’s Constitution (Article I, Section 8) require probable cause for detentions, a standard unmet by ICE detainers. Forcing sheriffs to comply without warrants violates citizens’ privileges and immunities under the Fourteenth Amendment. The Tenth Amendment supports local autonomy, but Chapter 27A, SF 2340, and HSB 285 override this, undermining self-governance.
- Community Endangerment: The lack of vetting for the 45,893 migrants entering Iowa from 2021 to 2024 exposed communities to risks, as Shawver warned. Nationally, ICE deported 271,484 individuals in fiscal year 2024, indicating the scale of potential threats, including groups like Tren de Aragua. Iowa’s failure to address these risks left citizens vulnerable to violence and instability.
- Erosion of Sovereignty: The alleged political motivation—to create future Democratic voters—threatens citizen sovereignty by diluting their voting power and eroding the civic structure, a deliberate attack on the republic’s foundation.
- Misuse of Funds: Reynolds’s deployment of Iowa resources to Texas diverted taxpayer funds, while threatening to cut Winneshiek County’s funding prioritized political agendas over public welfare.
- Threat of Domestic Unrest: HSB 285’s felony penalty risks community backlash, as citizens, feeling unprotected, may resort to self-defense measures, escalating tensions.
Citizen Action: Reclaiming Liberty in 2025
On March 27, 2025, Iowans have a historic opportunity to fight back. Shawver’s advocacy—writing unanswered letters, organizing seminars on constitutional sheriffs, and defending Marx—shows the power of citizens to demand accountability. Marx’s stand proves that local officials can resist overreach. Grassroots strategies from Loudoun-Liberty.org offer tools like First Amendment Petitions, which allow citizens to demand that officials honor their oaths, and State Republic Reviews, which can propose repealing unconstitutional laws like HSB 285. The Declaration of Independence and the Fourteenth Amendment empower this fight for liberty.
Call to Action: Reclaim the Republic
The Biden administration’s unvetted migrant surge and Iowa’s complicity threaten the last bastion of liberty. The dangers—constitutional violations, community endangerment, sovereignty erosion, misuse of funds, and domestic unrest—demand action. Support constitutional sheriffs like Marx and use petitions and reviews to hold officials accountable. Join the fight to reclaim the principles of 1776 in 2025—your liberty depends on it.
Reclaiming the Republic
