Idaho County Probation Officers Compile List of Foreign-Born Individuals for ICE

Probation officers in Canyon County, Idaho, have been compiling a list of foreign-born individuals on probation to share with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite not verifying the immigration status of those listed. Communications obtained by InvestigateWest reveal over 140 emails exchanged between county probation officers and ICE agents from May to July 2026, detailing the coordination between the probation department and ICE's Boise office. The list was created by reviewing case files and included individuals who reported being born outside the United States, without confirming their legal status. Critics, including immigration attorneys, have raised concerns that this practice could lead to the detention of individuals who are legally present in the U.S. Canyon County officials stated that they are following procedures consistent with past practices, which date back to the Obama administration, and emphasized that verifying legal status is the responsibility of federal authorities. The emails indicate that probation officers regularly informed ICE about the schedules of certain probationers, and in some instances, provided personal details to facilitate potential detentions. The county has faced criticism in the past for its cooperation with ICE, including lawsuits related to the detention of U.S. citizens based on immigration status.