Civil Rights + Immigration
Wassmuth Center, BSU to celebrate 75th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights is collaborating with Boise State University’s Stein Luminary to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This Sunday, the Wassmuth Center is inviting the public to an open house to learn more about the declaration and reflect on the state of human rights today, a […]
Man sentenced for federal hate crimes against Idaho LGBTQ+ community
Warning: This story includes descriptions of threats and acts of violence against the LGBTQ+ community. Almost a year ago, Brett Perry and John Michael Schert came to their North End home to discover that their pride flag outside had been burned. On Thursday, the couple saw the perpetrator, Matthew Lehigh, sentenced to prison on federal […]
Boise’s Wassmuth Center for Human Rights invites Idahoans to ‘Cure for Hate’ events
The Boise-based Wassmuth Center for Human Rights is inviting Idahoans to attend events planned throughout the state related to the documentary film “The Cure for Hate.” The film will be screened in Rigby, Rexburg, Boise and Sandpoint, and the events planned will also include panel discussions and a conference for students and teachers. “‘The Cure […]
As backlog of 2.6M immigration cases grows, advocates stress need for independent court system
WASHINGTON — An immigration judge and lawyer told a U.S. Senate Judiciary panel on Wednesday that an independent immigration court would help ease a backlog of more than 2 million pending cases. Because the immigration court system is an arm of the U.S. Justice Department — the Executive Office for Immigration Review — each presidential […]
Biden’s go-ahead for added border wall draws criticism from Democrats in Congress
WASHINGTON — U.S. congressional Democrats are frustrated with the White House’s decision to allow for the construction of additional border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. “Walls don’t work. It’s that simple,” Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal of Washington state wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “If we really want to take steps to solve the […]
Idaho bathroom law for transgender students set to go into effect, despite court efforts
An Idaho law meant to prevent transgender students from using school facilities that correspond with their gender identity will go into effect despite months of legal efforts to prevent its enforcement. On Thursday, federal Judge David Nye denied a request for a preliminary injunction for Senate Bill 1100, which requires public schools to maintain two […]
Nearly 20 years later, Boise garden program continues bridging gap for Idaho refugees
Safiya Abdi came to Idaho when she was 19 as a refugee of the Somali civil war in 2005. She had lived most of her life in a refugee camp in Kenya, where she started working from a young age to help support her single mother. Like many Idaho refugees, Abdi found full-time work when […]
Shutdown would mean even more delays in overwhelmed U.S. immigration courts
WASHINGTON — A looming partial government shutdown will put added pressure on an already strained system — U.S. immigration courts. Canceling or rescheduling court cases that many immigrants have awaited for years will cause even more backlogs, immigration attorneys and judges have warned. “Where we’ll really kind of see the backlog continue to build will […]
With two days until shutdown, border security package eyed by U.S. Senate GOP
WASHINGTON — Republican U.S. senators huddled behind closed doors Thursday, attempting to draft an amendment to the short-term government funding bill that would increase spending on border security and make policy changes. The provision could help nudge U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to put the broadly bipartisan measure up for a vote in that chamber, […]
Celebration of life services scheduled for Idaho Latino activist, J.J. Saldaña
Para leer esta historia en español, haga clic aquí. A celebration of life will take place for longtime Idaho Latino advocate J.J. Saldaña, who died Friday at the age of 49. The family of Saldaña invites the community to come together from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Boise State University’s Simplot Ballroom in the Student Union […]
‘A relentless advocate’: Idaho officials mourn death of longtime Latino activist J.J. Saldaña
Para leer esta historia en español, haga clic aquí. Messages of love and support continue to flood social media as state and local elected officials, as well as leaders from Idaho’s Latino and LGBTQ+ communities, mourn the death of longtime Idaho activist J.J. Saldaña. Saldaña, who served as the community resource development specialist at the Idaho […]
Biden administration offers temporary protection to Venezuelan migrants
WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced late Wednesday that the agency will expand protected status to nearly half a million Venezuelan nationals, allowing them to live and work in the United States. The move comes after multiple requests from cities that have struggled to house asylum seekers and calls from […]