A federal appeals court has decided to keep the brakes on Iowa’s controversial immigration law, which sought to make it a state crime for undocumented immigrants to enter Iowa after being deported or denied entry to the U.S. The ruling, issued on Friday, upholds a lower court’s decision to block the law, at least for now.

The law, backed by Iowa Republicans, was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds earlier this year. It aimed to give the state more power to enforce immigration rules, a move that critics argue steps on the federal government’s toes. The Justice Department under President Biden has maintained that immigration enforcement is strictly a federal responsibility.

This legal tussle is part of a larger trend, with several conservative states trying to take immigration matters into their own hands. However, the courts have consistently pushed back, emphasizing that immigration policy is a federal issue.

The three-judge panel that made the ruling included judges appointed by Republican presidents, including one by former President Trump. Despite their conservative backgrounds, the panel sided with the lower court’s decision to block the law.

Iowa’s Attorney General, Brenna Bird, expressed disappointment but vowed to keep fighting. “The battle is far from over,” she said, adding that the state would continue to defend its laws while supporting President Trump’s efforts to address border security.

For now, the law remains on hold, leaving Iowa’s approach to immigration enforcement in limbo. The case highlights the ongoing tension between state and federal authority over immigration, a debate that shows no signs of slowing down.