Since President Donald Trump’s second term began, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified its operations in Idaho, marked by increased collaboration with local law enforcement through programs like 287(g), which deputizes local officers to perform immigration enforcement tasks. This shift has led to longer detention periods and targeted arrests, often involving nonviolent individuals, as highlighted by a controversial 2025 raid in Wilder where hundreds were detained beyond the scope of the original warrant. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has criticized these actions for civil rights abuses and lack of transparency, noting that ICE often misrepresents the criminal backgrounds of those deported.

Local attorneys and advocates report that ICE’s approach has become more aggressive and less cooperative, with fewer opportunities for detainees to obtain bonds and prolonged detention times, exacerbating court backlogs. This has created fear and mistrust within immigrant communities, complicating legal pathways to residency and asylum. Critics argue that ICE’s focus has shifted away from dangerous criminals to broadly targeting immigrants, including those with pending legal status applications, thereby undermining due process and community trust in the immigration system.