the reality here is that iowa's 3 million residents are overwhelmingly white, and the state strong economy needs immigrant labor. >> iowans, especially here, would have a very difficult time having anything to eat at dinner time without immigrants because immigrants are the ones who process the meat, who farm the fields, who cook the food. >> reporter: brenda rodriguez, who fled an abusive relationship in mexico, has lived in the state for nearly 30 years. >> we did it so many years being under the channels, and i'm done. >> reporter: so when you hear these candidates who are running say that people who come here illegally have to go home, what do you think of that? >> i deserve a chance to stay. if i am paying my taxes and i am not doing anything, i don't think i may, yu know, a bad person that the people from iowa i don't want me here. >> reporter: could iowa run without immigrats like you?