The Post Falls Police Department has signed a formal agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, making it the first city police agency in Idaho to enter the federal 287(g) program for immigration enforcement cooperation.

The department joins Idaho State Police and 10 county sheriff’s offices already participating in the program. The move comes after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reached out to Idaho law enforcement agencies in February 2025, encouraging them to apply.

Post Falls will use what is known as the warrant model, which allows officers to act on ICE detainers without a federal agent needing to be on scene. Four officers and one captain are set to undergo the required 40 hours of ICE training. Fifteen officers volunteered for the program, meaning the department had more volunteers than training slots available.

Post Falls Police Capt. Brian Harrison explained how the warrant model works in practice. “This agreement is allowing us to tap into federal resources on that side,” Harrison said. “If we run them in the system and we see that there’s an ICE warrant, then our officers, without ICE even needing to be present, can arrest them and transport them to jail on that detainer.”

Kootenai County already ahead of the curve

While Post Falls is the first city-level department to sign on, Kootenai County has been participating in federal immigration enforcement partnerships for some time. The county sheriff’s office holds agreements with ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Kootenai County began operating under both the jail enforcement model and the warrant model in August 2025.

The Department of Homeland Security reimbursed the Kootenai County Jail roughly $95,000 between August 2025 and May 1 of this year, covering costs associated with housing federal detainees. That reimbursement represents a tangible financial benefit to county taxpayers who would otherwise bear those costs without federal compensation.

The Post Falls agreement extends similar federal cooperation to the municipal level for the first time in Idaho, signaling growing alignment between local law enforcement and federal immigration priorities under the Trump administration.

Opposition from advocacy group

Not everyone welcomed the announcement. PODER Idaho, an immigrant advocacy organization founded in 2016, raised concerns about ICE enforcement tactics nationally. Executive Director Estefania Mondragón cited recent deaths during enforcement operations. “We have had two ICE-related deaths this week,” she said, urging Post Falls to “reassess what it means to be public servants.” Eight people have been killed by ICE agents during President Trump’s second term, with two of those deaths occurring in the two weeks prior to publication.

PODER Idaho’s opposition reflects a familiar tension between immigrant advocacy groups and the law enforcement community over federal cooperation agreements. Critics of 287(g) programs argue they erode community trust, while law enforcement supporters contend the partnerships strengthen public safety by removing individuals with active federal warrants from local communities.

Post Falls officials have not indicated any plans to revisit the agreement following PODER Idaho’s statement.

A broader North Idaho trend

The Post Falls signing fits a broader pattern across North Idaho, where local governments have generally moved toward stronger cooperation with federal law enforcement rather than away from it. Kootenai County’s existing agreements and the financial reimbursements that followed appear to have provided a workable model for other agencies considering similar steps.

With 15 officers volunteering for a program that only needed five participants, the department’s own rank-and-file appear supportive of the direction. The 40 hours of required training will prepare those officers to carry out federal enforcement functions within their existing patrol duties, without requiring the physical presence of a federal agent for every detainer action.

Post Falls, one of the fastest-growing cities in Kootenai County, has seen its population expand significantly over the past decade. As the city grows, its police department is also expanding its operational footprint, including now into the realm of federal immigration enforcement partnership.

North Idaho Republican Staff