(Radio Iowa) – A dozen Democrats who serve in the Iowa House and Senate have formed a Black and Brown Caucus. Representative Ruth Ann Gaines of Des Moines was one of the four black lawmakers who formed the Iowa Legislative Black Caucus in 2015. “Our vision has expanded and we want to specifically embrace brown Iowans,” Gaines said. “They have the experience of being seriously discriminated against and they are the largest minority in the state.”

Representative Angel Rameriz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids who’s the first Latina to serve in the legislature, says the group’s co-sponsoring a bill that would make it illegal for ICE agents to hide their identity in Iowa. “Local law enforcement doesn’t hide from their community. ICE shouldn’t either,” she said. “ICE is a paramilitary organization operating with impunity, not accountable law enforcement.”

The bill would also ban ICE from arresting suspected illegal immigrants in Iowa courthouses, schools and churches. “Iowans across every political party, every faith, every corner of our state are watching ICE operations in Minnesota with deep concern and heartbreak.” The proposal is unlikely to be considered in the legislature.

Republicans hold 100 of the 150 seats in the Iowa House and Senate and G-O-P leaders decide which bills come up for a vote.