Iowa lawmakers table two immigration enforcement bills [Video]

DES MOINES — Two Republican bills relating to immigration enforcement in Iowa were halted this week after they failed to garner support from fellow statehouse Republicans.

An Iowa House Republican bill that would have created a new state crime of human smuggling and penalized individuals who transport or harbor undocumented immigrants in some cases — a proposal that was opposed by advocates for charities and shelters — was stopped in the Republican-led Iowa Senate.

And an Iowa Senate bill that would have required businesses to use the E-Verify program to ensure all employees are legal U.S. residents — which was opposed by business groups — will not advance in the Republican-led Iowa House.

The Republicans who chair the Iowa House and Iowa Senate judiciary committees confirmed the proposals’ legislative deaths Wednesday.

Rep. Steve Holt, a Republican from Denison who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said a significant concern he had …