Don’t use Idaho National Guard to help immigration enforcement | Opinion
Idaho Gov. Brad Little is treading on dangerous territory by ordering the Idaho National Guard to assist the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to round up undocumented migrants in Idaho.
The Idaho National Guard is providing only “administrative and clerical support,” according to the governor’s office. But any assistance involving the Guard is too much.
This is a slippery slope that President Donald Trump has already fallen down, and it runs the risk of mission creep. Militarizing immigration enforcement, even for clerical or administrative purposes, blurs the line between civil law enforcement and the military.
Given the fact that Trump has used the military for civil law enforcement in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles and has threatened to do so in places like Chicago — all for political means — it’s easy to see Idaho National Guard members being asked to engage in more active law enforcement activities.
As we’ve seen with ICE agents already, they’re prone to mistakes, and have deported people who are in the U.S. legally, including U.S. citizens, notably a 4-year-old child with cancer. So Idaho National Guard members could find themselves in a situation of acting against U.S. citizens.
Using members of the military to aid in immigration enforcement erodes community trust and strikes fear in the community.
Of course, that’s probably the whole point. Trump wants those who disagree with his overreach and power grabs to be afraid.
Is it any coincidence that Trump is targeting so-called “Democrat cities” while ignoring many higher-crime places, such as Memphis, Tennessee, and St. Louis, Missouri?
It’s hard to actually think of a national emergency that would warrant the deployment of National Guard troops in our nation’s cities.
Trump’s actions, targeting cities run by Democratic mayors in majority-minority populated communities, are clearly racially — and politically — motivated.
Having armed troops, as we have now seen in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which was passed in 1878 for the express purpose of making sure the military is not used for civil law enforcement. Only Congress can order the use of the military in rare instances. So, once again, Trump is usurping the power of Congress, while our obedient Republican congressmen remain silent.
ICE agents are acting as a private, secret law enforcement agency of the president, wearing masks and plainclothes, driving unmarked cars, refusing to identify themselves and using over-the-top tactics, such as smashing car windows and grabbing people off the street, with little to no regard for probable cause or due process.
Our military, who pledge an oath to the Constitution, should take no part in aiding and abetting such unconstitutional behavior.
And where are all the Second Amendment folks while this is going on? Aren’t they the ones who vow to take up arms against federal oppression? Aren’t they the ones who continually beat the drum that citizens need to be armed, and that cannot be infringed upon, because one day they might need to defend themselves against tyranny, injustice and a fascist government?
Well, here it is. This is it. It’s happening, in real time.
Perhaps the people of Washington, D.C., should all take up arms to fight the oppressive, illegal activities of a president who’s a wannabe dictator.
Finally, why would we use state resources for this? The Idaho National Guard is funded in part by the state Legislature. Why does the Idaho National Guard have to help ICE?
Didn’t Congress just approve the One Big Beautiful Bill, which appropriated $170 billion for immigration enforcement and border security efforts, including $75 billion in extra funding for ICE? But they need administrative help from the Idaho National Guard? Is filling out paperwork for ICE agents really the best use of Idaho Guard troops?
We’re already using state tax dollars to support ICE, after Little signed an agreement with ICE to use the Idaho State Police, which has transported three immigrants to ICE detention as part of what’s known as a 287(g) agreement.
We know it must be difficult for Gov. Little to stand up to Trump and tell him no. But this is one instance where he should have listened to his conscience — and the Constitution.
Statesman editorials are the opinion of the Idaho Statesman’s editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto.