ACLU Sues Idaho Over Immigration Law

As soon as House Bill 83 became law, the ACLU of Idaho filed a lawsuit.  On Thursday night, a federal court temporarily halted the implementation of a new immigration legislation in Idaho.  The measure, which was signed into law by Governor Brad Little on Thursday, permits police enforcement to document an individual’s status if they are accused of committing a crime. House Bill 83, as amended, is modeled after a contentious 2023 Texas law and establishes Idaho immigration offenses of “illegal entry” and “illegal reentry,” which target people who have already been deported and those without the required immigration authorization.  Only when someone is suspected of committing another crime may law enforcement convict them of those offenses. Additionally, the bill establishes the crime of “trafficking a dangerous illegal alien,” which is the deliberate transportation of an undocumented immigrant who has a criminal record in the United States or another nation.  Since law enforcement is granted immunity under the law, they are shielded from potential lawsuits resulting from the harm and liabilities they inflict while upholding the law. The bill’s emergency clause meant that it took effect as soon as the governor signed it.  The statute won’t be enforced for 14 days due to the court’s interim restraining order, which was issued Thursday night.

Source: Idaho Capital Sun