BOISE, ID – Governor Brad Little announced Thursday that the Idaho State Police (ISP) has entered into an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist in transporting convicted non-citizens from Idaho jails to ICE detention facilities under the federal 287(g) program.
Under the agreement, ISP will use the Jail Enforcement Model of the program, which allows designated state and local law enforcement personnel to perform certain immigration enforcement duties under ICE supervision. The state will transport individuals who have completed their sentences and are identified by ICE as removable based on prior criminal convictions.
Idaho plans to conduct up to 100 transports over the next 12 months, using up to $300,000 in state funds. Transports will typically go to the ICE facility in Jefferson County, with higher-profile cases transported to out-of-state facilities.
Governor Little said the partnership is part of Idaho’s continued coordination with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement.
“Idaho is stepping up to help the Trump administration transport dangerous illegal alien criminals to ICE facilities instead of being released back into our communities,” Little said in the release. “Idaho has taken many steps to increase our coordination with the Trump administration in the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws.”
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons both voiced support for Idaho’s participation. Lyons emphasized that transferring custody of individuals from jails to ICE reduces the need for public arrests and helps maintain community safety.
The state’s new agreement follows Governor Little’s Executive Order 2025-03, also known as the Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Act. The initiative is aligned with House Bill 83, the Idaho Immigration Cooperation and Enforcement Act, which was signed into law in March and supported by Idaho’s agricultural community.