Petition to Governor Brad Little: End Idaho’s State Cooperation with DHS and ICE Under 287(g) Agreements
To: Governor Brad Little and the Idaho State Legislature From: Concerned Residents of the State of Idaho

We, the undersigned residents of Idaho, call upon our Governor and elected representatives to immediately suspend the State of Idaho’s cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the federal 287(g) program unless and until these agencies agree to full transparency, accountability, and adherence to constitutional standards.

The 287(g) agreements deputize local law enforcement officers within the Idaho State Police to act as federal immigration agents, blurring jurisdictional lines and creating a system ripe for abuse, racial profiling, and violations of due process. Idaho must not allow federal agencies to operate in our communities without oversight, restraint, or responsibility to our Constitution.

287(g) agreements harm public safety by hurting the public’s trust in local policing.  This in turn causes less public cooperation for investigations into other crimes. 

287(g) agreements create a significant financial burden for taxpayers by forcing local police to fulfill the responsibility of the federal government.

287(g) agreements open local law enforcement to costly litigation as current ICE enforcement actions will likely be challenged as Fourth Amendment violations. 

We demand that cooperation be contingent upon ICE and DHS adopting the following constitutional safeguards:

1. Investigations into Violations of Constitutional Rights: Independent oversight must review and publicly report on any alleged violations of Fourth, Fifth, or Fourteenth Amendment rights committed by ICE or cooperating officers in Idaho.
2. Warrant Requirement for All Enforcement Actions: ICE must be required to present a judicial warrant for any arrest, detention, or search conducted in cooperation with Idaho agencies. Administrative warrants or detainers shall not be accepted as lawful substitutes.
3. Prohibition on Masking of Agents: All agents operating in Idaho must be clearly identifiable and prohibited from concealing their faces during official actions.
4. Mandatory Disclosure of Badge Numbers: Badge numbers or other identifying credentials must be provided upon request by any Idaho resident or law enforcement oversight body.
5. Respect for Miranda Rights and Due Process: All individuals detained or questioned must be informed of their rights consistent with established U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
6. Oversight for Abuse and Misconduct Allegations: An independent civilian oversight board, including representatives of Idaho’s legal, civic, and immigrant communities, must review complaints of abuse and publish findings.
7. Accountability for Lawbreaking Agents: Idaho must reserve the right to revoke cooperation and to prosecute or expel any ICE or DHS agent found to have violated Idaho law or constitutional rights.
8. Adherence to Standard Police Escalation Guidelines: Use of force and engagement protocols must align with Idaho’s own standards for policing, de-escalation, and public safety.

Our Position
Idaho State Patrol law enforcement officers are sworn to uphold the Constitution. We cannot, in good conscience, continue to empower or enable federal agencies that routinely operate outside those bounds. Cooperation without accountability erodes public trust, endangers our communities, and places our state at legal and moral risk.

We urge you, Governor Little, to take immediate action to:

• Suspend all existing 287(g) partnerships
• Refuse renewal or expansion of these agreements
• Demand written guarantees of constitutional compliance and independent oversight from DHS and ICE before any future collaboration.

Let Idaho stand as a state that values both the rule of law and the dignity of every person within its borders.