Local advocates are concerned the deployment of Idaho’s National Guard to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will negatively affect Idaho’s immigrant community.
On August 8, Idaho Governor Brad Little authorized 14 members of the state’s National Guard to help ICE. The decision follows a directive from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth activating up to 1,700 National Guard members to support ICE.
Those who work in the Idaho immigrant community say the recent move increases anxiety and panic for those seeking legal status.
“I don’t want people going underground. I don’t want people to be completely overwhelmed by panic. So we try to lessen that and tell individuals there are still laws in this country, and there is still hopefully Rule of Law,” said Luis Campos, Legal Director of the Alliance of Idaho.
Campos said using the National Guard to support ICE sends the broader community the wrong message about the immigrant community.
“The National Guardsmen are employed in emergency response situations: fires, floods and civil unrest, ” he said. “I think it’s part of a larger narrative to portray the immigrant community as part of this emergency that has plagued our country.”
Campos said he is worried additional National Guardsmen will be authorized to help ICE.
4 News Now reached out to Governor Little for an interview, to which he declined.
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