More sheriff’s offices put out statements regarding immigration law enforcement

**Updated on Jan. 30 at 1:43 p.m.

BURLEY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Multiple sheriff’s offices in counties across the Magic Valley have released statements over the past week due to rumors regarding immigration law enforcement.

The Cassia County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Saturday dispelling rumors regarding immigration law enforcement being in the Mini-Cassia area and deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status.

The sheriff’s office said that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not been at Walmart, Las Penitas or any other Burley areas besides the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center to deal with criminal illegal aliens.

“The Cassia Sheriff’s Office is only interested in keeping the community safe from criminals,” the office said in its statement. “The rumors are out there but they are not true.”

Both the Twin Falls County and Lincoln County sheriff’s offices released statements on Thursday dispelling rumors of deputies going to schools to detain children due to immigration status.

Both counties said they focus on working with ICE to address illegal immigrants with criminal records.

“One of my school resource deputies reached out to me [Wednesday] and was hearing this rumor in schools,” Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson said. “I’ve gotten phone calls from a couple of other area schools about this. So, I feel it’s important for us to put out some information for our community to let them know where we stand on the issue.”

Alongside the sheriff’s offices, the Minidoka County School District released their own statement on Friday regarding the status of undocumented students.

The district stated that it does not collect information on undocumented students, allow students to leave wit anyone not in their emergency contact list or give out student information.

The district also advised staff to contact a principal, resource office or the superintendent in the unlikely event of being approached for information regarding a student.

On Jan. 30, Blaine County Sheriff released a statement as well regarding rumors that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is conducting deportation operations. They mention that since Morgan Ballis took office on Jan. 13, the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office (BSCO) has not received any communication from ICE conducting deportation operations.

The rumors come after President Donald Trump began implementing his immigration policies after taking office on Monday. Trump’s policies included an executive order ending birthright citizenship, which a federal judge recently blocked.