Defending Idaho's sovereignty, promoting local governance, election integrity, and limited government through good policy & community action.
Idaho
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DHS says the man charged in the Star kidnapping case illegally re-entered the United States. ICE has lodged a detainer.
This is not an isolated enforcement problem and outrage after the latest arrest isn't a strategy.
Where does your city or county stand on immigration enforcement? 🧵
Teton County considers NEW RESTRICTIONS on cooperation with ICE. And the timing is notable.
ICE just arrested an alleged MS-13 member in Victor. Meanwhile, a Victor councilmember has openly questioned why the city shouldn't become a sanctuary city.
Now Teton County's probation department is proposing limits on ICE detainers and sharing non-public information with federal agents.
Commissioners have postponed a vote to hear more public comment. Teton residents still have an opportunity to weigh in.
Teton County records: map.idahoimmigrationwatch.or…
Teton commissioners are accepting public comment before making their decision.
Email: commissioners@tetoncountyidaho.gov
Background: map.idahoimmigrationwatch.or…
VICTOR, IDAHO IS IN THE NEWS AGAIN.
ICE reports arresting a known MS-13 gang member wanted on criminal charges in El Salvador during a targeted operation in Victor.
Just days earlier, Victor Councilwoman Amy Ross called for "zero communication or assistance with ICE" and asked: "What is it about being a sanctuary city that's so harmful?"
Neither Victor nor Teton County has a formal 287(g) agreement.
See where Idaho agencies stand:
map.idahoimmigrationwatch.or…
A reminder. xitter.twitterapi.xyz/secureIDelect/status/2…
IS VICTOR USING 911 FUNDING AS LEVERAGE AGAINST ICE?
Victor, Idaho, has $125,000 in public safety funding under discussion. But at an October 28 meeting, Councilwoman Amy Ross called for "zero communication or assistance with ICE" from the Teton County Sheriff's Office.
She also asked: "What is it about being a sanctuary city that's so harmful?"
There's a problem with that idea. Idaho Code § 19-6102 prohibits local government policies that discourage immigration enforcement or cooperation with federal immigration officers.
No funding decision has been made, but the question deserves an answer:
Is Victor considering conditioning its 911 dispatch contribution on the sheriff's cooperation with ICE?
Mike Howell is calling for renewed ICE worksite enforcement at farms, factories and other employers.
That brings the debate back to an important question for Idaho: how should immigration enforcement address employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers?
ICE investigations and mandatory E-Verify address different parts of that problem.
Business interests shouldn’t get to decide whether immigration law applies to them.
@MHowellTweets tells POLITICO what sort of message Stephen Miller needs to send to businesses employing illegal immigrants.
THE AMNESTY LOBBY IS GOING AFTER STEPHEN MILLER.
ABIC Action, representing a coalition of 2,200+ business leaders, condemned his appointment as White House chief of staff and called for work permits and amnesty pathways for long-term immigrants.
Two days earlier, ABIC urged Congress to advance immigration legislation, including H.R. 9535, which contains a conditional amnesty pathway for agricultural workers and is cosponsored by Idaho's @CongMikeSimpson .
The cheap labor lobby's priorities are becoming increasingly clear.
abic.us/trump-names-stephen-…
IDAHO'S SIMPSON BACKS BILL WITH AMNESTY PATHWAY AND EMPLOYER SAFE HARBOR
As Big Business pushes Congress for a lame-duck immigration deal, H.R. 9535 deserves a closer look.
@CongMikeSimpson is an original cosponsor. Idaho's dairy lobby says it's working with @MikeCrapo on a Senate version.
The bill would:
❌ Let qualifying illegal agricultural workers obtain H-2A status without leaving the U.S.
❌ Waive immigration violations.
❌ Protect employers from liabilities tied to their past employment of those workers.
This isn't just about expanding guest worker visas. It's also about legalizing existing illegal workers and shielding employers from consequences of previous illegal hiring.
Read H.R. 9535 for yourself: congress.gov/bill/119th-cong…
ICE is actively encouraging local law enforcement agencies to join its 287(g) program, offering free training and access to federal resources.
In Idaho, 16 agencies have already signed 18 agreements. But many counties and cities still haven't joined or outright declined.
Does your sheriff or police department participate?
Find out on our interactive Idaho 287(g) map:
map.idahoimmigrationwatch.or…
IS VICTOR USING 911 FUNDING AS LEVERAGE AGAINST ICE?
Victor, Idaho, has $125,000 in public safety funding under discussion. But at an October 28 meeting, Councilwoman Amy Ross called for "zero communication or assistance with ICE" from the Teton County Sheriff's Office.
She also asked: "What is it about being a sanctuary city that's so harmful?"
There's a problem with that idea. Idaho Code § 19-6102 prohibits local government policies that discourage immigration enforcement or cooperation with federal immigration officers.
No funding decision has been made, but the question deserves an answer:
Is Victor considering conditioning its 911 dispatch contribution on the sheriff's cooperation with ICE?
Idaho's dairy PAC endorsed 14 Democrats for legislative seats in 2026. Its criteria include support for the "foreign-born workforce".
Here's the list in text:
IDI PAC Endorsements (current as of October 2026). An asterisk marks a new candidate rather than an incumbent.
Statewide Officials
Brad Little | R | Governor
Scott Bedke | R | Lieutenant Governor
Phil McGrane | R | Secretary of State
Debbie Critchfield | R | Superintendent of Public Instruction
Brandon Woolf | R | State Controller
District 7
Charlie Shepherd | R | Representative
District 8
Brian Beckley | R | Representative*
District 9
John Shirts | R | Representative
Judy Boyle | R | Representative
District 10
Mike Moyle | R | Representative
District 11
Camille Blaylock | R | Senator
Debbie Geyer | R | Representative*
District 12
Ben Adams | R | Senator
Jeff Cornilles | R | Representative
District 14
Scott Grow | R | Senator
District 15
Desi Burbank | R | Senator
District 16
Sonia Galaviz | D | Senator
Anne Henderson Haws | D | Representative
District 17
Carrie Semmelroth | D | Senator
John Gannon | D | Representative
Megan Egbert | D | Representative
District 18
Janie Ward-Engelking | D | Senator
Illana Rubel | D | Representative
Brooke Green | D | Representative
District 19
Melissa Wintrow | D | Senator
Monica Church | D | Representative
Chris Mathias | D | Representative
District 20
Joe Palmer | R | Representative
James Holtzclar | R | Representative
District 21
Treg A. Bernt | R | Senator
James Petzke | R | Representative
Jeff Ehlers | R | Representative
District 22
Lori Den Hartog | R | Senator
Kelly Walton | R | Representative*
Jason Monks | R | Representative
District 23
Todd Lakey | R | Senator
Shawn R. Dygert | R | Representative
District 24
Brent Reinke | R | Senator*
Kevin Moxley | I | Representative*
Chance Requa | R | Representative*
District 25
Casey Swensen | R | Senator*
Grayson Stone | R | Representative*
Cherie Vollmer | R | Representative*
District 26
Ron Taylor | D | Senator
Mike Pohanka | R | Representative
Kevin Marsh | D | Representative*
District 27
Kelly Anthon | R | Senator
Douglas T. Pickett | R | Representative
Clay Handy | R | Representative
District 28
Jim Guthrie | R | Senator
Richard Cheatum | R | Representative
Dan Garner | R | Representative
District 29
James Ruchti | D | Senator
Dustin W. Manwaring | R | Representative
District 30
Julie VanOrden | R | Senator
David Cannon | R | Representative
Ben G. Fuhriman | R | Representative
District 31
Van T. Burtenshaw | R | Senator
Jerald Raymond | R | Representative
Rod Furniss | R | Representative
District 32
Kevin J. Cook | R | Senator
Stephanie Mickelsen | R | Representative
Erin Bingham | R | Representative
District 33
Dave Lent | R | Senator
Marco Erickson | R | Representative
District 34
Jon O. Weber | R | Representative
Britt Raybould | R | Representative
District 35
Mark Harris | R | Senator
Mike Veile | R | Representative
Joshua Wheeler | R | Representative
ICE is already making arrests in Teton County, Idaho. Yet the county isn't pursuing a formal 287(g) partnership.
And it gets more interesting.
Teton Valley Wire reports that sources close to the Sheriff's Office say Sheriff Clint Lemieux instructed deputies to finish traffic stops and leave rather than assist ICE with apprehensions.
Meanwhile, County Commissioner Brad Wolfe has publicly opposed any formal agreement with ICE.
Sheriff Lemieux, is that account accurate? And why isn't Teton County pursuing 287(g) when other Idaho sheriffs have already joined?
Source: tetonvalleywire.com/teton-co…
Idaho 287(g) Map: map.idahoimmigrationwatch.or…
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Yesterday, Idaho's dairy lobby was making headlines for bragging about the money it spent helping defeat immigration enforcement bills.
Today, we're showing you where Big Ag's political money comes from.
Secure Idaho tracked more than $3.15 MILLION in contributions and other political spending tied to Big Ag and cheap-labor interests from 2020–2026.
We've identified the biggest donors, traced the money, and made the records public.
See who's funding Idaho politics: idahoimmigrationwatch.org/bi…
POST FALLS ISN'T WAITING ON BOISE.
First Idaho city to join ICE's 287(g) program. Now Mayor @randy_westlund says they're exploring E-Verify requirements for business licenses.
287(g) addresses immigration enforcement. E-Verify addresses hiring.
Two different tools. One city in Idaho pursuing both.
Idaho's dairy lobby has a problem. Its CEO, Rick Naerebout, estimates that as many as 90% of Idaho dairy workers are here illegally.
Yet the industry is now bragging about spending nearly $200K targeting Republican primaries, winning 8 of 9 races, and helping kill immigration enforcement bills, including E-Verify.
And they're now selling that playbook to the rest of the country. Apparently, keeping illegal labor cheap and plentiful is a political victory worth celebrating.
Texas joins Florida in requiring sheriffs to participate in ICE's 287(g) program.
Under Texas SB 8, sheriffs operating county jails must request and, if offered, enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE by December 1, 2026.
Idaho? Still optional.
Last session, the Idaho Sheriffs' Association opposed HB 659 AND its more flexible replacement, SB 1441.
Should Idaho revisit the issue in 2027?
