Measure targets 'sanctuary cities'

BOISE - The House State Affairs Committee introduced legislation Monday that creates financial penalties for Idaho cities and counties that refuse to enforce federal immigration laws.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell, is directed at "sanctuary cities" that seek to protect undocumented immigrants by discouraging or prohibiting local agencies from checking, without probable cause, whether someone is in the country legally.

Idaho doesn't currently have any sanctuary cities, although some have discussed the idea. In order to forestall such efforts, Chaney's bill would withhold state sales tax dollars from cities or counties that refuse to go along with federal immigration laws.

"I just want to make sure we're not playing politics with the safety and security of Idahoans," Chaney said.

While police couldn't stop a car or search a business or residence due solely to an immigration violation, the legislation requires anyone arrested for other reasons to prove they're in the country legally. If they fail to do so within 48 hours, that information would be noted in their court record.

Chaney introduced the measure just days after President Donald Trump ordered the construction of a wall along the United States' border with Mexico and temporarily suspended the admission of all refugees.

"Opposition is healthy. Opposition is American. But our security should not be the price of political protest," Chaney told the Associated Press. "There's a way to oppose the administration's initiatives and not sacrifice security."

Rep. Paulette Jordan, D-Plummer, was the only member of the State Affairs Committee to oppose introduction of the bill.

"My biggest issue is the impact on local control," she said after the meeting. "It also puts an undue burden on agricultural communities that rely on immigrants and on law enforcement. It hurts businesses and the state."

Rep. Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird, voted to introduce or "print" the measure, but said later she's still researching what kind of impacts it might have.

"This was a vote to print the bill, not to support it," she said. "I've reached out to the Idaho Sheriffs Association to see how it affects local agencies. I want some feedback before I take a position on the bill."

Limiting sanctuary policies isn't a new trend for many states, but Trump's latest executive orders have revived the movement. After three years of effort, GOP lawmakers in Texas are expected to pass a measure banning sanctuary cities this legislative session.

Statehouses in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania all have introduced similar legislation this year seeking to ban cities or schools from breaking with federal immigration laws.

Those efforts have sparked counterprotests. An estimated 600 people flooded the Boise airport Sunday as part of the nationwide protest over Trump's executive order that suspended immigration from some Muslim countries.

Many of those same advocates filled every seat in the state House Affairs Committee on Monday and spilled into overflow rooms, eager to show their discontent with Chaney's proposal.

While no public testimony was heard, protesters said it was important to let lawmakers know that their constituents were watching.

Note: The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168.