Idaho Legislature: Ask Legislators to VOTE YES on H0083 - Immigration, illegal entry (posted 02/02/25)

• Bill: legislature.idaho.gov/s…

• Contact Legislators: emailidaho.com

(Check the linked page or use My Bill Tracker for the bill’s current status.)

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H0083 prohibits illegal entry into, or illegal presence in Idaho, by aliens, enables enforcement of those prohibitions, includes certain related orders, and creates criminal offenses for illegal entry. Local Law Enforcement Officers are somewhat limited in their ability to enforce this section (e.g., they can remove illegals only if they are detained or investigated for suspected commission of an independent crime).

Question: Do provisions of H0083 mesh with S1039 - Immigration Enforcement, which we favor even more strongly? Probably yes, but smart lawyers probably should decide.

H0083 has many nuances, but its key effect is to allow Idaho to enforce immigration restrictions that the federal government often refuses to enforce.

Clarifying and expanding the role of the state judiciary is necessary because federal courts often fail to expel even convicted criminal aliens. This bill allows a magistrate or judge hearing a case to order the illegal alien "to return to the foreign nation from which the person entered or attempted to enter." The illegal alien commits a misdemeanor (first offense) or felony (second/subsequent offense) if he/she refuses to comply with this judicial order.

H0083 is similar to H011, but removes H0011’s SECTION 3 granting civil immunity and indemnification of local and state government officials, employees, and contractors. Instead, H0083 properly places the burden on law enforcement and limits the conditions under which law enforcement may act. We like the changes in H0083 because we generally oppose government officials being shielded from liability.

Many argue that enforcing our immigration laws will be a hardship on farmers and ranchers.

• Who will pick fruit?

• Who will milk cows?

• Who will work in meat packing plants?

This argument is specious, and similar to the arguments used in the Civil War era to support slavery (who will pick cotton)?

The net effect of illegal immigration is negative: Drugs, gangs, and human trafficking; potential voter fraud; assorted violent crimes and petty crimes; sovereignty and rule of law trashed. Moreover, many illegals depend on citizen taxpayers for food, housing, and medical care.

References:

• IFF re: H011 (+2): idahofreedom.org/house-…

• Opposing view from Idaho State Representative from District 32: x.com/stopidahorinos/st…

• Idaho’s Illegal Immigration, Open Borders, Related Crimes & Security. What Can WE Do?