Idaho: Resources for ICE Detainees

This guide is for people detained by ICE in Idaho and for their families. Idaho has one certified ICE detention facility - the Jefferson County Jail in Rigby, 134 beds. However, most people arrested by ICE in Idaho are transferred quickly out of state to facilities in Nevada (Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump), Washington (Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma), or Arizona. ICE arrests in Idaho rose 797% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 - from 41 to 368 arrests. ICE detentions in Idaho rose 540% in the same period. Governor Brad Little signed an Executive Order (2025-03) directing state law enforcement to cooperate with ICE and authorized $300,000 for Idaho State Police to transport up to 100 people to ICE facilities under a 287(g) agreement signed August 2025. Twin Falls and Boise airports are used as ICE flight transfer hubs with documented flights to Phoenix, Seattle, St. George UT, and Killeen TX. The ICE Salt Lake City Field Office covers Idaho, Nevada, and Montana. Legal help is limited. Act quickly. Last verified: June 2026.

Step 1: Find Your Family Member - Right Now

ICE Online Detainee Locator: locator.ice.gov

You need: the person's full legal name, date of birth, and country of birth - OR their A-Number (Alien Registration Number). New detainees may not appear for 24-48 hours as records are processed. If a recent arrest produced nothing in the locator, check the county jail where the arrest occurred and call the ICE Boise Sub-Office.

ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line: 1-888-351-4024 (toll-free)

EOIR Immigration Court Case Status: 1-800-898-7180

ICE Boise Sub-Office (ERO): (208) 685-6635

ICE Salt Lake City Field Office (covers Idaho): SaltLakeCity.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

Elmore County Detention Center detainee line: (208) 587-9103 (Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM)

Jefferson County Jail detainee line: (208) 745-9210 (Jefferson County Sheriff's Office)

Important: If your family member was arrested by ICE in Idaho, they may not stay in Idaho. Transfers to out-of-state facilities happen within hours or days. Use the ICE Detainee Locator daily after an arrest and call the Boise Sub-Office to track transfers. Many Idaho detainees travel through Boise or Twin Falls airports and are transported to Pahrump, Nevada or Tacoma, Washington. One documented Idaho detainee was shackled on a flight from Boise to Pahrump - nearly 700 miles - within days of arrest.

Step 2: Where ICE Detainees Are Held

In-State Facilities - Short-Term Holding

Jefferson County Jail - Rigby (Primary In-State ICE Facility)

200 Courthouse Way, Rigby, ID 83442

Phone: (208) 745-9210 (Jefferson County Sheriff's Office)

ICE case information: ERO Boise Sub-Office (208) 685-6635 | SaltLakeCity.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

Jefferson County Jail in Rigby is the only certified federal immigration detention facility in Idaho. Its capacity is approximately 134 beds. Idaho State Police transport detainees from county jails across the state to Jefferson County Jail under the August 2025 287(g) agreement. Transfers to out-of-state ICE facilities typically occur from here.

Visiting: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-9 PM; Saturday-Sunday 7:30 AM-2:30 PM. Contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at (208) 745-9210 for current visiting registration requirements.

Phone: Outgoing calls only (detainees cannot receive incoming calls). Prepaid calling account recommended.

Mail: [Detainee Full Name + A-Number], Jefferson County Jail, 200 Courthouse Way, Rigby, ID 83442

Money: Can be deposited online, by kiosk in the lobby, or by mailing a money order.

Elmore County Detention Center - Mountain Home

Mountain Home, ID

Detainee inquiries: (208) 587-9103 (Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM)

ICE case information: ERO Boise Sub-Office (208) 685-6635 | SaltLakeCity.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

Tablets: Available - messaging via inmatesales.com

Visiting: Video kiosks at the jail lobby (visits are video-based, not in-person). Schedule in advance - recommended at least 24 hours ahead.

Money and gifts: idcountypackages.com - for gift packages and commissary.

Mail: [Detainee Full Name + A-Number], Elmore County Detention Center, [Mountain Home address - confirm at ice.gov or by calling (208) 587-9103]

Elmore County Detention Center was one of the two Idaho facilities certified as a federal immigration detention center in 2024 and 2025. Detentions here rose sharply with the broader Idaho enforcement surge.

Out-of-State Transfer Destinations - Where Idaho Detainees Go

Most Idaho ICE detainees are transferred out of state quickly - often within days. The most common transfer destinations documented by investigators, attorneys, and news reporting are:

Nevada Southern Detention Center - Pahrump, Nevada (Primary transfer destination from southern Idaho)

2190 East Mesquite Avenue, Pahrump, NV 89048

Phone: (775) 751-4500

Operated by: CoreCivic under contract with ICE

Capacity: approximately 1,064 total (250 ICE contracted beds - frequently over capacity)

Attorney virtual visits: NSDCAttorneySchedule@corecivic.com

Legal calls: (775) 751-4500 - schedule 24 hours in advance

Pahrump is approximately 700 miles from Boise. As of late 2025, Nevada Southern was one of the most over-capacity ICE facilities in the country - holding 40+ detainees daily above its ICE contracted limit. Idaho detainees from southern Idaho frequently travel through Boise Airport to reach Pahrump. Detainees from the Boise area are also sometimes transferred to Las Vegas-area facilities.

Northwest ICE Processing Center - Tacoma, Washington

1623 East J Street, Tacoma, WA 98421

Phone: (253) 779-6000

Operated by: GEO Group under contract with ICE

Primary transfer destination from northern Idaho. This is also the facility used for Alaska detainees (see Alaska article in this series). Bond posted at ICE ERO Seattle: 1000 Second Avenue, Suite 2900, Seattle, WA 98104.

California Facilities - Verified Transfer Destinations

Idaho Capital Sun analysis of ICE detention records from May 2026 found Idaho State Police-transported detainees held at California City Detention Facility and Golden State Annex, both in California. ICE has broad discretionary authority to transfer detainees anywhere in the country.

Other possible transfers

ICE flight records from Twin Falls identified flights to: St. George, Utah; Seattle, Washington; Killeen, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix-area ICE facilities in Eloy and Florence have also received Idaho detainees based on documented flight patterns.

Step 3: Get Legal Help - Act Immediately

Idaho has limited immigration legal infrastructure. ICE detentions moved extremely fast in 2025-2026, with transfer often occurring before families even know where the person is. Contact legal help the same day as an arrest.

If a family member has been in the US for less than 2 years, expedited removal may be used - this means deportation can happen without an immigration judge hearing. An attorney must be contacted immediately in these cases.

ACLU of Idaho

aclu-id.org | (208) 344-9750 | Boise

The ACLU of Idaho has been the primary civil rights voice challenging Idaho's immigration enforcement policies - including filing a lawsuit against House Bill 83 (HB 83), obtaining a temporary block on parts of the law in March 2025, and opposing the ISP-ICE 287(g) agreement. ACLU of Idaho Executive Director Leo Morales has been publicly active on Idaho ICE enforcement issues. Contact ACLU Idaho for civil rights concerns, constitutional questions about an arrest, and referrals to immigration legal help.

Idaho Legal Aid Services

idaholegalaid.org | Statewide - multiple offices

Lewiston: (208) 746-7541 | Boise | Twin Falls | Pocatello | Coeur d'Alene

Idaho Legal Aid Services provides free civil legal services to low-income Idahoans. They can provide referrals to immigration legal help. Contact for initial guidance on resources.

PODER of Idaho

Boise area - Immigrant and Latino community advocacy organization in Idaho. Contact for community resources and rapid response support. Estefanía Mondragón is the executive director.

Immigration attorneys in Idaho

Idaho has a small number of private immigration attorneys, primarily concentrated in Boise and Twin Falls. Attorney Chris Christensen (Boise) has been publicly quoted on Idaho ICE enforcement trends. Attorney Nikki Ramirez (Twin Falls area) has tracked Idaho-specific ICE flight patterns. A consultation with a private immigration attorney is critical given the speed of Idaho transfers.

Salt Lake City-area legal resources (for Utah/Nevada transfers)

Because many Idaho detainees are transferred to Nevada Southern Detention Center (Pahrump, NV) - under the ICE Salt Lake City Field Office - Salt Lake City-area immigration legal organizations may be able to assist: Utah Coalition of La Raza (UCLR) | American Fork - utahcoalition.org.

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) (for Washington transfers)

nwirp.org | (206) 957-8611 - Seattle/Tacoma area - for detainees at Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.

EOIR Pro Bono List

Each ICE detention facility is required to post a pro bono legal service list in housing units. Ask your family member to request the list immediately and contact organizations on it. At Jefferson County and Elmore County jails, this list covers Idaho-regional providers.

Immigration Advocates Network

immigrationadvocates.org - National searchable directory; search by Idaho, Nevada (for Pahrump), or Washington (for Tacoma).

Step 4: Bond - How to Get Someone Released

Bond allows a detained person to be released from ICE custody while their immigration case continues. Not everyone is eligible - mandatory detention applies in some situations. A July 2025 ICE policy memo further restricted bond eligibility for people who entered without inspection. An attorney should evaluate bond options immediately.

Idaho immigration bond amounts typically range from $1,500 to $25,000. Standard bail bond companies cannot post immigration bonds - you need a licensed immigration bond specialist.

Bond posting depends on where the detainee is held:

For detainees in Idaho (Jefferson County or Elmore County): Bond is posted at the ICE ERO Salt Lake City Field Office. Contact (208) 685-6635 (Boise Sub-Office) or SaltLakeCity.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov to confirm current bond posting procedures.

For detainees at Nevada Southern (Pahrump): Bond is posted at ICE ERO Las Vegas or through a licensed bond agent. Call (775) 751-4500 to confirm current procedures.

For detainees at Northwest ICE Processing Center (Tacoma): Bond is posted at ICE ERO Seattle, 1000 Second Avenue, Suite 2900, Seattle, WA 98104.

Payment: Money order, cashier's check, or certified check payable to 'Department of Homeland Security.' Standard bond agents charge 15%-20% of the bond amount as a non-refundable fee to post electronically.

Bond Funds

National Immigrant Bond Fund

immigrantbondfund.org - National fund; requires family contribution.

Idaho community mutual aid

Contact PODER of Idaho or ACLU of Idaho for current Idaho-specific bond assistance resources.

Step 5: Communication - Following Transfers Across State Lines

The most important communication challenge for Idaho families is tracking transfers. Idaho detainees move quickly and often - from county jail to Jefferson County, then to Nevada, Washington, or Arizona. The ICE Detainee Locator is the primary tool but may lag by 24-48 hours during transfers. Check daily and call the Boise Sub-Office at (208) 685-6635 to confirm current location.

Jefferson County Jail - Rigby

Visiting: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-9 PM; Saturday-Sunday 7:30 AM-2:30 PM. Contact (208) 745-9210.

Phone: Prepaid or collect calls. Outgoing only.

Mail: [Name + A-Number], Jefferson County Jail, 200 Courthouse Way, Rigby, ID 83442

Money: Online, lobby kiosk, or money order by mail.

Elmore County Detention Center

Visiting: Video kiosks - schedule at least 24 hours ahead via inmatesales.com.

Tablets/messaging: inmatesales.com

Money/gifts: idcountypackages.com

Nevada Southern Detention Center - Pahrump, NV

Phone: (775) 751-4500 for general information. Confidential legal calls: schedule 24 hours ahead.

Attorney virtual visits: NSDCAttorneySchedule@corecivic.com

Mail: [Name + A-Number], Nevada Southern Detention Center, 2190 E. Mesquite Avenue, Pahrump, NV 89048

Northwest ICE Processing Center - Tacoma, WA

Phone: (253) 779-6000

Mail: [Name + A-Number], Northwest ICE Processing Center, 1623 East J Street, Tacoma, WA 98421

Step 6: Idaho's Enforcement Environment and Your Rights

Idaho has enacted multiple layers of state-level immigration cooperation in 2025:

Executive Order 2025-03 (February 2025): Gov. Little directed all state agencies to cooperate with ICE and pursue 287(g) agreements.

Idaho State Police 287(g) Agreement (August 2025): ISP authorized to transport people completing criminal sentences directly to ICE facilities. $300,000 approved from the Governor's Emergency Fund for up to 100 transports. By May 2026, ISP had transported more than 80 people from state correctional facilities.

House Bill 83 (2025 Legislature): Created new state-level immigration crimes. The ACLU of Idaho filed a lawsuit; a federal judge issued a partial temporary block in March 2025. The law's status was still being litigated as of June 2026.

Expedited Removal: For people in the US less than 2 years, ICE is using expedited removal - deportation without an immigration judge hearing. This dramatically shortens the time available to seek legal help.

Data note: KTVB investigators documented 48 ICE-related flights through Twin Falls between April 2025 and June 2026 - 22 arriving and 26 departing. This transfer network means someone arrested in Idaho can be in Arizona, Nevada, or Washington within 24-48 hours.

Workers in Idaho's agricultural sector (dairy farming, food processing) have been affected by workplace enforcement operations. In 2025, federal authorities also arrested young children alongside adults in at least one Twin Falls-area operation - a 6-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy from Peru were among those arrested in January 2025.

Do not sign anything without an attorney:

ICE may pressure detained people to sign Voluntary Departure or stipulated removal documents. One Idaho detainee reported being pressured to sign Voluntary Departure paperwork while agents also allegedly withheld medications during transport. Say clearly: 'I will not sign anything without speaking with a lawyer first.'

Key rights every detainee has:

The right to speak with an attorney. Free calls to pro bono providers on the posted list are required by ICE standards.

The right to a bond hearing before an immigration judge (unless subject to mandatory detention or expedited removal).

The right to be free from physical, sexual, and verbal abuse during arrest and transport.

The right to access medical care, including prescribed medications during transport.

The right to communicate with your home country's consulate (ICE must notify consulate; free calls required).

The right to food during transport - detainees cannot be denied meals.

To report abuse or file a complaint:

DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603

ACLU of Idaho: aclu-id.org | (208) 344-9750

Quick Reference - Idaho ICE Detainee Resources

Find a detainee:

ICE Detainee Locator: locator.ice.gov

ICE Detention Reporting Line: 1-888-351-4024

EOIR Case Status: 1-800-898-7180

ICE Boise Sub-Office: (208) 685-6635

ICE Salt Lake City Field Office: SaltLakeCity.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

In-state facilities:

Jefferson County Jail (Rigby): 200 Courthouse Way - (208) 745-9210

Elmore County Detention Center (Mountain Home): (208) 587-9103

Primary out-of-state transfer destinations:

Nevada Southern Detention Center (Pahrump, NV): 2190 E. Mesquite Ave - (775) 751-4500

Northwest ICE Processing Center (Tacoma, WA): 1623 East J Street - (253) 779-6000

Legal help:

ACLU of Idaho: aclu-id.org | (208) 344-9750

Idaho Legal Aid Services: idaholegalaid.org | (208) 746-7541 (Lewiston)

NWIRP (for Tacoma): nwirp.org | (206) 957-8611

Sources and verification: KTVB, '48 Flights: Inside Idaho's ICE Transfer Network,' June 2026 (48 flights Twin Falls April 2025-June 2026; 22 arriving 26 departing; flights to St. George UT, Seattle WA, Killeen TX, Phoenix AZ; CSI Aviation contracts; Air Wisconsin GlobalX Sky Service; Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-20 detainees; Boise Airport 5 flights 2025 plus 1 January 2026; Joaquin Sanchez Meridian detained December 6, 2025; Elmore County to Boise Airport to Pahrump 700 miles; later Phoenix; shackled at feet hands waist; pressured to sign voluntary departure; medications withheld; limited food; mental abuse; attorney Nikki Ramirez Twin Falls quote; KUSA Denver collaboration); Idaho Capital Sun, 'ICE Arrests and Detentions Rise Steeply in Idaho,' August 4-5, 2025 (41 arrests Jan 1-June 26, 2024 vs 368 same period 2025 = 797%; 65 detentions Jan 1-June 26, 2024 vs 416 same period 2025 = 540% increase; 321 total detentions first half 2024 vs 496 first half 2025 in Elmore Jefferson Gooding Blaine Cassia counties; attorney Chris Christensen Boise; broke car window 3 incidents; ages 18-64; 6-year-old girl 11-year-old boy Peru arrested January 28 Twin Falls; 68% had criminal convictions; 84 pending charges 34 other immigration violations; southern Idaho detainees go to Las Vegas; expedited removal for less than 2 years US; July 2025 mandatory detention policy); Idaho Capital Sun, 'Idaho State Police Transport 30 More Immigrants,' May 26, 2026 (ISP transported 80+ from state correctional facilities since June 2025; 8 deported 9 on ICE detainers; 5 found in ICE detention: 3 Northwest ICE Processing Center Tacoma; 2 California City Detention Facility and Golden State Annex); Idaho Capital Sun / Montana Express, 'Idaho State Police Partners with ICE,' June 6, 2025 (Jefferson County only certified federal detention center in Idaho; 134 capacity; 90 in custody; House Bill 83; judge temporarily blocked March 2025; ACLU lawsuit; federal District Court Judge Amanda Brailsford allowed cooperation parts to take effect); Gov. Idaho press releases (August 7, 2025: 287(g) agreement; $300,000 emergency fund; Executive Order 2025-03; Task Force Model; 100 transports over 12 months; transport to Jefferson County; higher-profile to out-of-state facilities; first transport abuser violent offender drug trafficker); JH News and Guide (Jefferson County Rigby is only jail authorized to hold federal detainees; capacity 134); ICE Elmore County page (ice.gov; (208) 587-9103 Mon-Fri 8-5; (208) 685-6635 ERO Boise; SaltLakeCity.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov; tablets inmatesales.com; video kiosk visits; idcountypackages.com; mail to Elmore County Detention Center); Jefferson County Jail records (200 Courthouse Way Rigby ID 83442; (208) 745-9210; visiting Mon-Fri 7:30 AM-9 PM Sat-Sun 7:30 AM-2:30 PM; outgoing calls only prepaid or collect; money online kiosk or money order); Nevada Southern Detention Center ICE page (ice.gov; 2190 E Mesquite Avenue Pahrump NV 89048; (775) 751-4500; NSDCAttorneySchedule@corecivic.com for virtual attorney visits; appointments 24 hours ahead 8 AM-8 PM; legal visits daily 8 AM-8 PM); Nevada Independent, 'Nevada Home to Most Over-Capacity ICE Detention Centers,' August 27, 2025 (exceeded contracted capacity 40+ detainees per day April 2025; 250 ICE contracted max; 1,064 total capacity; detainees from Utah and Idaho; Nye County terminated contract November); Nevada Independent, 'ICE Plans Detention Warehouse in Salt Lake City,' March 14, 2026 (ICE Salt Lake Field Office covers Nevada Montana Idaho; Brian Henkey; 1,000+ transfers Salt Lake area to Nevada 2025 per LAT). Volatile items: Verify Jefferson County Jail current visiting hours (confirm at (208) 745-9210 before traveling); verify Elmore County Detention Center current operational status and address (confirm on-site vs ICE locator; address not confirmed from primary source - call (208) 587-9103); verify HB 83 legal status (partially blocked March 2025; litigation ongoing as of June 2026); verify Nevada Southern current capacity and ICE contract status; verify bond posting procedures (contact (208) 685-6635 for current Idaho-specific bond posting location). Last verified: June 2026.