Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0660 – Immigration Status Verification for Arrested Persons
Bill Summary
This bill creates new Section 67-3015 in Idaho Code, mandating that all state, county, and local law enforcement agencies verify and record the immigration status and nationality of every person they arrest. The requirement applies during any administration of criminal justice activities, including detection, apprehension, detention, prosecution, and adjudication.
Beginning October 1, 2026, all law enforcement agencies must publish biannual reports containing the immigration status and nationality of criminal offenders, crime statistics for foreign nationals arrested in Idaho, the number of inadmissible aliens investigated and transferred to federal officials, the crimes for which such persons were arrested, and any reasons for noncompliance. Law enforcement agencies that fail to comply with these requirements may have their state funding withheld. The bill includes an emergency clause making it effective July 1, 2026.
Overall Assessment
This bill creates mandatory immigration status verification for all arrests in Idaho and requires public reporting of crime statistics by nationality. Law enforcement agencies gain new administrative duties without dedicated funding, while facing potential loss of state funding for noncompliance. The legislation directly targets illegal immigration enforcement by requiring documentation and transfer of inadmissible aliens to federal authorities.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (-1)
The bill imposes unfunded mandates on law enforcement agencies. Section 67-3015(2) requires all agencies to verify and record immigration status for every arrest, and subsection (3) mandates biannual reporting by October 1, 2026, without appropriating resources to cover these new administrative costs. This expands government responsibilities and operational burdens on local agencies.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The bill establishes law enforcement procedures for immigration verification and does not address citizen participation in government, election processes, or civic engagement mechanisms.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
The bill concerns law enforcement immigration verification procedures and contains no provisions related to education policy, parental rights, curriculum, or school funding.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
The bill addresses criminal justice procedures for arrested individuals and does not involve agricultural policy, farming operations, or agricultural education.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
The bill creates immigration status verification requirements for law enforcement and contains no provisions related to water rights, inter-basin transfers, or water resource management.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
The bill establishes law enforcement immigration procedures and does not address natural resource management, environmental stewardship, or federal environmental policy.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The bill concerns immigration status verification during arrests and contains no provisions related to energy independence, resource development, or energy policy.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
The bill addresses law enforcement procedures for arrested individuals and does not involve Idaho National Laboratory operations, nuclear research, or technology development.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
The bill creates immigration verification requirements for law enforcement and does not address property rights, takings, regulatory burdens on property owners, or due process protections for property.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
The bill establishes criminal justice procedures for immigration verification and contains no provisions related to federal land ownership, state management of lands, or land transfer policies.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
The bill concerns law enforcement immigration procedures and does not address fish and wildlife management, hunting and fishing opportunities, or predator control.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
The bill creates new law enforcement reporting requirements but does not directly regulate commerce, small business operations, or economic development. While administrative costs may affect agency budgets, the bill's primary focus is criminal justice procedures rather than economic policy.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
The bill addresses immigration status verification during arrests and does not involve healthcare delivery systems, medical decision-making, or welfare program administration.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
The bill establishes law enforcement procedures for arrested individuals and contains no provisions related to family values, marriage, parental rights, or child welfare.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
The bill concerns immigration verification during criminal justice administration and does not address services, programs, or policies specifically affecting older Americans.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (1)
Section 67-3015(2) requires law enforcement to verify immigration status of arrested individuals, and subsection (3) mandates reporting on inadmissible aliens transferred to federal officials. These provisions support state sovereignty in immigration enforcement by enabling Idaho to identify and facilitate removal of persons unlawfully present within state borders.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (1)
The bill directly implements immigration enforcement by requiring verification of immigration status for all arrested individuals under Section 67-3015(2) and mandating reports on inadmissible aliens apprehended, detained, and transferred to federal officials under subsection (3). These provisions create mechanisms to identify illegal aliens for deportation and track foreign nationals involved in criminal activity.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
The bill addresses law enforcement immigration verification procedures and does not involve judicial selection processes, election methods, or constitutional interpretation principles.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
The bill establishes immigration status verification requirements for arrested individuals and contains no provisions related to religious freedom, free exercise of religion, or conscience protections.