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—

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.”

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.”

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.

“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.

It’s a task no family ever wants to face. 

More than two years after University of Idaho murder victim Kaylee Goncalves was brutally slain, her loved ones are finally facing the unimaginable – going through the belongings she left behind. 

“Note: this is not all of it, this is JUST the beginning,” a relative wrote in a Jan. 27 post on the Goncalves family’s Facebook page alongside photos of cardboard boxes and plastic containers stacked inside their Idaho home, each labeled with a simple, devastating “K.”

“There are boxes and boxes and boxes. I’m just starting here,” the family member added. 

The post explained that Kaylee’s things had been moved out of her childhood bedroom because it was “just too much” to go through them there. 

“I’m finally going through Kaylee’s things,” reads the post. 

“I am looking for several items, such as her orange Sublime T-shirt, her grey sublime crew neck, Black death row records shirt [sic], and the outfit she was wearing out that night.

“Wish me luck. There’s no turning back now,” the tear-jerking post reads. 

Goncalves, 21, was one of four students stabbed to death inside an off-campus Moscow home Nov. 13, 2022 – a tragedy that stunned the nation. 

Since then, her life had remained boxed up, untouched and frozen in time – until now. 

In a follow-up post, her family shared side-by-side photos of a white crewneck sweatshirt freshly pulled from a box bearing the phrase “Think while it’s still legal,” next to an undated image of Goncalves smiling ear-to-ear while wearing it. 

“It doesn’t smell like her, it smells like the box it came out of, but it was definitely hers,” read the caption, accompanied by broken-heart and crying emojis.

Other painful discoveries followed. 

On Friday, the family unearthed Goncalves’ mouth retainer and bright red hairbrush – with strands of her long blonde hair still tangled in its bristles. 

They also found pink sticky notes bearing everyday to-do lists she never got to finish. 

“Curl hair, find stuff on amazon, take murph for a walk, cut nails,” read one note, referring to Goncalves’ beloved pet golden doodle, Murphy.

On the note, which was scribbled with small hearts, Goncalves had also written down the words “manage” and “flexible,” along with questions seemingly meant for a future employer – plans for a life suddenly cut short. 

Another heart-clad note simply read, “Hello my name is Kaylee.”

“These items of Kaylee’s, hit me hard today,” the family member wrote. “I just want her back so bad!!!!” 

The family member also expressed rage toward her killer, Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty in July to murdering Goncalves and her pals Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20. 

“FU BK!!!!! I wish Steve could have 1 minute in that cell with him. 1 min, that’s all it would take,” the caption says, referring to Goncalves’ father, Steve Goncalves. 

The moving posts all feature the hashtags “goncalvesarmyoflove,” “kayleejade4ever” and “neverforget.” 

The family’s heartbreaking work came just days after horrific autopsy reports revealed that Goncalves was knifed roughly 38 times when Kohberger, 31, targeted the King Road home. 

Kohberger’s motive for the murders could remain a mystery forever, as he is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. 

The Goncalves family did not respond to Post requests for comment.