Boise, Twin Falls to receive Afghanistan refugees

The cities of Boise and Twin Falls are the only two in Idaho selected to receive refugees from Afghanistan.

The administration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday began notifying governors and state refugee coordinators across the country about how many Afghan evacuees from among the first group of nearly 37,000 arrivals are slated to be resettled in their states.

“As of September 10th, Idaho has not been instructed as to the number of and when refugees are expected to arrive,” according to a factsheet on Afghanistan from Gov. Brad Little’s office.

Little urged President Biden to uphold “stringent vetting standards.”

“Governor Little has also directed the Idaho State Police to work directly with local refugee coordinators in Boise and Twin Falls to ensure all incoming refugees are vetted through the state’s criminal database,” according to the factsheet.

Marissa Morrison Hyer, Little's press secretary, said Wednesday the governor's office has been in communication with the Department of Homeland Security on this matter, but has not heard directly from the White House.

The factsheet also said the continuation of refugee resettlement in Idaho “should not detract from the bigger immigration crisis facing our country — the open border within Mexico.

“We must continue to focus our efforts on encouraging the President and Congress to act and protect our country by ending illegal immigration from Mexico.”