Is Idaho soft on illegal aliens? (Boise, Idaho Falls: crime, unemployment, high school)

[crittersitter]

I am seriously considering relocating to Idaho but would like to know the state's view on illegal aliens? A recent article I read about the soon to be late Larry Craig made it seem like he was soft on illegals. I want to live where illegal people and activities of any type are not tolerated. Thank you.

[cleosmom]

I can't give you a formal answer on that, however I can paint you a picture and allow you to draw your own conclusions (after you find the official answer of course).

Idaho is an agriculture state, Idaho's current unemployment is around 2.4%. Permanent jobs; food servers, hospitality, customer service and so forth are all having a time of hiring people. Everyone around Idaho Falls is hiring and having a difficult time in getting anyone to apply. What this means is that the college students have gone back to school and the ones who aren't in school are working jobs to where they get well above min. wage. Henceforth, one can only guess whose picking the potatoes, snap peas, barley, wheat and all involved in the Harvest.

Not sure what you mean by "activities"?

[SergeantL]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

one can only guess whose picking the potatoes, snap peas, barley, wheat and all involved in the Harvest.

Well, I can give you one example, guys like my kid, who is in law enforcement in Idaho and is paid dirt wages. To supplement his income, he puts in an additional 30 to 60 hours a week working for a local farmer at $9 an hour. I have gotten to know many of the farmers in my son's area. I see mostly family members working in the fields and extremely few imported workers.

I would add that the majority of Idaho's agricultural industry is not of the labor intensive variety found in such states as California, where there is such a huge demand for field workers. The demand arises from the need for hand labor, such as lettuce, tomatos, grapes, etc. The overwhelming majority of Idaho crops can be harvested by machine. In my son's case, he has a Class A commercial license and excellent mechanical skills, so he's delivering the harvested loads and repairing equipment.

[KittyToy]

Please explain what you mean by "activities being tolerated"?

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by SergeantL

Well, I can give you one example, guys like my kid, who is in law enforcement in Idaho and is paid dirt wages. To supplement his income, he puts in an additional 30 to 60 hours a week working for a local farmer at $9 an hour. I have gotten to know many of the farmers in my son's area. I see mostly family members working in the fields and extremely few imported workers.

I would add that the majority of Idaho's agricultural industry is not of the labor intensive variety found in such states as California, where there is such a huge demand for field workers. The demand arises from the need for hand labor, such as lettuce, tomatos, grapes, etc. The overwhelming majority of Idaho crops can be harvested by machine. In my son's case, he has a Class A commercial license and excellent mechanical skills, so he's delivering the harvested loads and repairing equipment.

That's awesome for your son to be well rounded enough to get his hands dirty so to speak. Not so awesome are the wages he makes for law enforcement, I often feel that they and teacher make far less than they should.

It sounds as if your son was raised with work ethics-- thank you! From my view point I am seeing those 35 and younger with fewer and fewer work ethics.

[jufrbo]

I wouldn't say that Idaho is soft on illegals, but it is definately not harsh on them either. i would like to see more steps against illegals, like in Arizona, but i guess we don't have as many as they do.

As for teachers and police not being paid enough, i can't comment on police, other than i know the BCP is highest paid in the state and make decnt wages, i imagine the wages aren't decent in other parts of the state, but one has to look at the nature of law enforcement in rural communities, what is there workload? Busting underage drinkers, the occasional speeder or DUI maybe. If your job isn't that hard you don't deserve too much wages.

teachers on the other should not make more, I know a high school teacher who makes upwards of 60,000 a year plus coaching stipened, that's almost twice the state average of salary. For someone in their early forties that gets three months off a year, plus two weeks for christmas that seem like a great deal. Also most teachers retire right around age 55 where as people in the private sector retire at around 65. So teachers quit whining it could be worse, just count your blessings.

[crittersitter]

Originally Posted by KittyToy

Please explain what you mean by "activities being tolerated"?

Activities such as drugs, gangs, etc.

One of the reasons I asked about illegals is because I am beginning to see a trend in some other states where they are cracking down on employers that hire illegals (Oklahoma & Arizona - maybe Missouri and Arkansas to follow). Illegals have been reported to be packing up and leaving OK & AZ due to the stricter laws but they are going to other more illegal friendly states. I was just hoping that Idaho wouldn't be one of them. It is such a great state that I would not want to see it ruined. The financial drain and crime that results from a huge influx of illegals in a state can be dire.

[Sage of Sagle]

There just really aren't any around the Northern Idaho area. All "those jobs" are filled by high school students for the most part....

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by JustinFromBoise

As for teachers and police not being paid enough, i can't comment on police, other than i know the BCP is highest paid in the state and make decnt wages, i imagine the wages aren't decent in other parts of the state, but one has to look at the nature of law enforcement in rural communities, what is there workload? Busting underage drinkers, the occasional speeder or DUI maybe. If your job isn't that hard you don't deserve too much wages.

Gee, busting up meth labs, tons of them in rural Idaho. Southeast Idaho, due in part to growth, has escalated crime wise in the past two decades. So the authorities are doing more than arresting underage drinkers/smokers and the few other things you described.

I think an officer, yes knowingly, place their life on the line is worth earing decent wages. So as not to hijack this thread, that's all I'm saying on the subject

[cleatis]

Originally Posted by crittersitter

I am seriously considering relocating to Idaho but would like to know the state's view on illegal aliens? A recent article I read about the soon to be late Larry Craig made it seem like he was soft on illegals. I want to live where illegal people and activities of any type are not tolerated. Thank you.

there are plenty of illegals here. they say they are trying to stop it, but really they aren't because they like having people that will work for cheap and get no benefits.