Idaho Lawmakers Unveil Slate of Immigration Bills Crafted with Conservative Think Tank

Proposals include measures to track undocumented inmates, students, and require local law enforcement to partner with ICE

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A group of Idaho lawmakers have unveiled a slate of immigration proposals, crafted in tandem with Theo Wold, a former Trump administration official and former Idaho solicitor general. The proposals include bills that would require tracking the number of undocumented inmates in jails and prisons, and the number of undocumented students in public schools, as well as require local law enforcement to enter 287(g) agreements with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Why it matters

The proposed bills are part of a broader effort by some Idaho lawmakers to crack down on immigration, both legal and illegal, in the state. Critics argue the measures would create fear and instability among immigrant communities and workers who are vital to Idaho's economy.

The details

The slate of bills also includes proposals to require financial information and audits of the private nonprofit Idaho Office for Refugees, require employers to use the immigration-status-checking software E-Verify, and create a new crime for organizations that are 'concealing, harboring or shielding' people in the country illegally. Nampa Republican Sen. Brian Lenney, one of the lawmakers spearheading the effort, said the issue of immigration was related to human rights and 'demographic replacement' via refugee resettlement programs, human trafficking and cheap labor.

  • The text of the bills was not made available at the event on Tuesday, February 9, 2026.
  • As of Friday, February 7, 2026, only one of the proposals was scheduled for introduction in a committee - a bill on reporting aggregated numbers of students' immigration status, scheduled to be introduced in the House Education Committee at 9 a.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026.

The players

Theo Wold

A former Donald Trump administration official and former Idaho solicitor general who worked with Idaho lawmakers on crafting the immigration proposals.

Brian Lenney

A Nampa Republican state senator who is one of the lawmakers spearheading the effort to introduce the immigration bills.

Dale Hawkins

A Republican state representative who hosted the event on Tuesday, February 9, 2026 to rally support for the immigration proposals.

ACLU of Idaho

The organization that condemned the proposed bills in an emailed statement, arguing they would create fear and instability among immigrant communities.

Heritage Foundation

The influential national conservative think tank that Theo Wold is a visiting fellow with, and whose advocacy arm, Heritage Action, held an event in Boise in October to discuss some of the legislative proposals and immigration issues.

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What they’re saying

“When we're talking about immigration, it's a human rights issue. … This is about demographic replacement, and they're doing that via refugee resettlement programs, human trafficking and cheap slave labor.”

— Brian Lenney, State Senator (dailyfly.com)

“Despite growing national disapproval of the current administration's immigration enforcement tactics, Idaho's lawmakers insist on continuing their relentless attack against immigrants living and working in our state. These anti-immigrant bills, borrowed from other states where they have already caused serious harm, do nothing to move Idaho forward.”

— Rebecca De León, ACLU of Idaho Spokesperson (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

Whether to hold a hearing for the proposed bills is up to the discretion of the committee chairs, and as of Friday, February 7, 2026, none of the lawmakers had seen the bill proposals in their committees yet.

The takeaway

The slate of immigration bills proposed by Idaho lawmakers, crafted with input from a conservative think tank, represent an ongoing effort by some in the state to crack down on both legal and illegal immigration. Critics argue the measures would harm immigrant communities and workers vital to Idaho's economy.