MERIDIAN, Idaho — Tensions are running high among Latino neighbors in the Treasure Valley this week after federal law enforcement officials, including ICE, took two confirmed individuals into custody in Canyon and Ada Counties.

The latest arrest circulating widely online saw Meridian Police officers assisting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on Friday morning in their pursuit of a previously deported man whom authorities claim had a criminal history.

The 39-year-old suspect was ultimately taken into HSI custody near the intersection of Franklin and Linder Roads. People on the scene sent photos of the incident to Idaho News 6.

ICE activity ramps up across the Treasure Valley

Latest ICE activity in the Treasure Valley

The Meridian Police Department told Idaho News 6 that federal officers initiated the pursuit because they knew the driver was a person with a prior criminal history who had previously been deported and was subject to a reinstated order of removal.

Authorities say that when they stopped the man, they found two fraudulent immigration documents and a fake Social Security card.

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This was not the first immigration related arrest this week.

As Idaho News 6 previously reported, Nampa business owner Tim Cook witnessed and recorded an immigration arrest on early Wednesday morning at the intersection of Canyon and Roosevelt in Nampa.

In Cook’s words. “I mean, it was almost like a kidnapping. It was gone in 90 seconds.” Those officers were seen wearing vests that said “ICE.”

After extensive online chatter about an arrest Thursday night in Caldwell’s Farmway Village, Idaho News 6 has since confirmed that the incident was not ICE-related and instead, a woman was taken into custody for a warrant issued by Payette County.

Mike Dittinber, Executive Director of the Caldwell Housing Authority, said that many members of the Latino community are worried about future ICE operations. He added that it’s important not to be misled by false information.

“We appreciate the diversity in our community, and when that diversity comes into question, or when that diversity is somewhat subject to scrutiny— it should make everybody uncomfortable,” said Dittinber

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As for local law enforcement’s involvement, Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram issued a statement on Friday saying that CPD does not enforce federal immigration laws. However, Chief Ingram did concede that in the unlikely event ICE needs immediate assistance, CPD officers will step in.

Estefania Mondragon, the Executive Director of PODER of Idaho, a local advocacy group, says many incidents involve people driving to work. They suggest that families prepare for potential encounters with immigration enforcement.

“Memorize phone numbers and have a family plan ready in case the worst is to happen,” said Mondragon. PODER of Idaho advises targeted individuals not to sign any documentation until a lawyer is present.

Toys for Tots Idaho is experiencing a significant increase in demand this year, with more children on their list than last year.

Currently, 8,400 children are still awaiting toys, and the list is growing by a few hundred each day.

The organization is in urgent need of toy donations to meet the needs of these children.

The organization has provided toys to 25,546 children so far in 2025, surpassing the 25,436 children supported in 2024.

They aim to give each child at least one toy, two stocking stuffers, a teddy bear, and a book.

Donations can be made at Idaho’s Largest Toy Drive taking place at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Meridian daily from 6am to 6pm.

Donations can also be made through their Amazon wish list, accessible via their website, ToysforTotsIdaho.com, with toys shipped directly to their warehouse.

The organization is also supporting various agencies and community partners, including The Salvation Army Caldwell, Emmett Valley Friendship Coalition, and the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, among others.

BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) — Idaho is seeing more money, and more out-of-state money in lobbying than it likely ever has. 

Secretary of State Phil McGrane told attendees at the Annual Associated Taxpayers of Idaho Conference Wednesday that more than $2.5 million was spent on lobbying in 2025. 

McGrane highlighted new data visualization tools available online at voteidaho.gov, including to track lobbyist spending. (See data visualizations from Idaho Secretary of State’s Office below.)

During the 2025 session, lawmakers approved changes to lobbying reporting that now require “indirect lobbying” to be reported, which would capture activity like social media or texting campaigns during the legislative session to encourage residents to support or oppose certain bills. The new bill also requires monthly reporting year-round, instead of just during the three-month legislative session. Around $700,000 has been spent on lobbying since the 2025 legislative session ended in April, McGrane said. 

There are 392 registered in-state organizations that lobby in Idaho, and there are 300 out-of-state organizations registered to lobby in Idaho.  

The new data visualization runs through each month of 2025, as the lobbying money gets spent. The state legislative session this year ran January through April 4. By the end of the year, the top spender was Modern Ag Alliance, based out of St. Louis, Missouri. The group spent over $620,000 lobbying on one bill, House Bill 303, which would have largely granted legal immunity to pesticide manufacturers. The bill never advanced out of the committee. 

“Most of the spending comes right at the end of February into March,” McGrane said Wednesday. “So in the heat of the session is when money starts to really trickle in. It starts off slow, and then comes in strong.”

The second-highest spender of the year was the American Federation for Children, a Washington D.C.-based organization that advocates for public subsidies for private school education. The entity has spent more than $200,000 in Idaho, with a large focus on House Bill 93 — a private school choice tax credit that provides a total of $50 million for families to go toward private school tuition or other educational expenses. The governor signed HB 93 into law on Feb. 27. 

There are around 400 lobbyists registered in Idaho, McGrane said. 

“For all of you legislators, that means there’s four of them for each one of you,” he said. 

The second new data visualization dashboard available online depicts the close legislative races the state has seen since 2018. All 105 seats in the Legislature are up for election every two years. 

There have been 49 legislative primary races decided by 435 — the number of attendees registered for Wednesday’s conference — or fewer votes since 2018. 

“Fifty races were determined by just the people here,” McGrane said. “So if we can get more people to participate, more people to show up, they can have a big impact.” 

Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.