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Court Rules Idaho Can Enforce Ban On Interstate Abortion Travel

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Court Rules Idaho Can Enforce Ban On Interstate Abortion Travel


A federal appeals court has ruled that Idaho can enforce its abortion travel ban, which prohibits minors from traveling out of state for abortions without parental consent.

The decision Monday by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a 2023 decision that had blocked the law on First Amendment grounds.

The law, signed last year by Gov. Brad Little (R), created a new felony called “abortion trafficking,” defined as when an “adult … with the intent to conceal an abortion from the parents or guardian of a pregnant, unemancipated minor, either procures an abortion … or obtains an abortion-inducing drug” for that minor. “Abortion trafficking” also involves “recruiting, harboring, or transporting” a pregnant minor for an abortion, the law states. Violations are punishable by two to five years in prison.

The law’s sweeping language criminalizes anyone transporting a pregnant minor without parental consent within Idaho to get any abortion care, even outside a clinic. It could apply to a grandmother driving a pregnant minor to the post office to pick up a package containing abortion medication, for example.

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The court of appeals largely upheld the law, except for the language that prohibited “recruiting,” a vague term that was not defined within the law. The panel of judges found the recruiting provision is “unconstitutionally overbroad because it prohibits a substantial amount of protected expressive speech.”

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, a vocal opponent of abortion, called the ruling a “tremendous victory” in a press release.

“Idaho’s laws were passed specifically to protect the life of the unborn and the life of the mother,” Labrador said. “Trafficking a minor child for an abortion without parental consent puts both in grave danger, and we will not stop protecting life in Idaho.”

Raul Labrador, Idaho’s attorney general, speaks outside the US Supreme Court earlier this year. Labrador has advocated for an interstate abortion ban travel as well as banning health-stabilizing abortions for women in medical emergencies.

Bloomberg via Getty Images

Idaho’s law is one of two in the country that prohibit minors from traveling out of state for abortion care. It was the first to be implemented after Roe v. Wade fell and is the only law of its kind that carries a felony punishment.

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“This decision is devastating for young people in Idaho and the trusted adults who support them,” Rebecca Gibron, the CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, said in a press release.

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“Instead of protecting our youth, this law puts them in harm’s way,” she continued. “It forces minors in abusive households to disclose pregnancies, often with severe consequences, while also criminalizing those who would offer them help.”

Idaho is one of the most extreme anti-abortion states in the country. The state implemented a six-week ban with a private enforcement mechanism as soon as Roe fell, and Little signed a near-total abortion ban just a month later. Idaho went all the way to the Supreme Court to argue that women should not be able to access abortion care during a medical emergency, claiming that Idaho’s abortion ban overrides federal law that requires most hospitals to offer abortion care if necessary to stabilize the health of a pregnant patient.

Read the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision below:



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Idaho

Boise Police arrest 19-year-old in connection with club shooting

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Boise Police arrest 19-year-old in connection with club shooting


BOISE — 19-year-old Alexandra Lopez of Twin Falls is charged with eluding, aiding and abetting, and driving under the influence following a shooting incident at a Boise club early Sunday morning.

On February 1, around 4:15 a.m., officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 4300 block of West State Street. When they arrived, they confirmed that no one inside the club had been injured.

Police spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s car traveling along State Street. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled.

The vehicle was located after it crashed in the area of North Lander Street and West Glendale Street. Officers took three occupants into custody.

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“This was a team effort to quickly locate the suspect vehicle and coordinate resources,” said Boise Police Lieutenant Dave Hunsaker.

Neighborhood Reporter Steve Dent was at the scene Sunday evening and reported that the middle panel of the Satin Dolls’ front entry appeared broken.

Alexandra Lopez was arrested and booked into the Ada County Jail.

An investigation is ongoing, and Idaho News 6 will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Pro-ICE and Anti-ICE demonstrations take place across the Treasure Valley

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Pro-ICE and Anti-ICE demonstrations take place across the Treasure Valley


BOISE, Idaho — A few hundred people came out for the ‘Idaho Stands with ICE’ rally at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise, while around 100 showed up in Caldwell to protest ICE.

The ‘Idaho Stands with ICE’ rally was organized by the Idaho Liberty Dogs, and the rally started with Vanilla Ice’s famous song before speakers took to the podium.

“Let me be clear, ICE is carrying out the will of we the people,” said one of the organizers. “Violence and demonizing heroes that protect us is and always will be unacceptable.”

WATCH | See the turnout for both protests—

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A pro-ICE rally and an anti-ICE protest happened in different cities in the Treasure Valley

The central theme of the rally centered on legal immigration. Several migrants who became American citizens spoke at the podium, and some of the people Idaho News 6 talked to echoed this sentiment.

“I wanted to come out because we want refugees to come as long as they come legally, said one of the demonstrators. “We want them to come as long as they come and don’t abuse our welfare system.”

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The Anti-ICE protest in Caldwell had around 100 people, with a large demographic of Latino supporters. Caroline Carillo wanted to come out and speak for the people who live in fear, and she says ICE has been terrorizing her community.

“It’s not just scary for them, but it is scary for us,” said Carillo. “I have very dark skin, and now it is legal to racially profile me and others because of the color of our skin.”

The Anti-ICE Protest in Caldwell

Carillo also called out Governor Brad Little and other Idaho politicians, asking for help when it comes to ICE.

“Idaho used to be too great for hate,” said Carillo. “All of you Idahoans out there that worry about your state, Governor Brad Little, if you are worried about your state, you might want to stand up for us.”

Neighborhood Reporter Steve Dent also talked to a pair of veterans at the anti-ICE protest who told me the rhetoric has been ramped up following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota. They said that ICE has to do better.

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“We have been here before, haven’t we?” said army veteran Richard Jensen. “They are undisciplined people out making mass arrests; we have had citizens arrested, and two citizens shot dead in the process.”

The demonstrators at the ‘Idaho Stands with ICE’ rally have a different view as they support ICE, and they told us the harassment of these agents needs to stop, and that is adding to the problem.

“There are a lot of people that are interfering with them right now, and that is making their jobs harder,” said a demonstrator. “Thank you, ICE, we appreciate all that you do.”

There was a police presence at both rallies on Saturday. At the ‘Idaho Stands with ICE’ rally, there were also counter-protesters across the street. Both rallies remained peaceful.





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Legislative Notebook: Plans for budget cuts show K-12 education, prison staff would be hit hard

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Legislative Notebook: Plans for budget cuts show K-12 education, prison staff would be hit hard


Even in a normal legislative session, the Idaho Legislature’s budget process is complicated, time consuming, and at times, tense.  But after this third week of legislative business, and elected officials at odds over how to solve a multi-million dollar budget crunch, it’s clear that this isn’t exactly going to be a normal year. That’s because […]



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