immigration

Montana’s top attorney is investigating the city of Helena. City commissioners recently passed a resolution stating Helena will avoid assisting federal immigration enforcement efforts. Gov. Gianforte called for the investigation and warned of penalties for cities defying state law.

Four Democrats competing for Montana’s western U.S. House seat met for their first public forum Tuesday. The candidates covered a wide range of topics, from housing costs to immigration policy.

Montana’s junior senator has thrown his support behind the Trump administration’s push to end birthright citizenship. Several federal courts blocked the order from going into effect. The Supreme Court will hear arguments debating the order's constitutionality in April.

Businesses around Montana closed their doors or altered their operations Friday to protest immigration enforcement actions. The closures are part of a national movement.

A long-time auto mechanic in the town of Froid, Montana has been swept up in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Border Patrol recently arrested Roberto Orozco-Ramirez. Orozco-Ramirez is the community’s mechanic and volunteers as a youth baseball coach. Montana Free Press’ Nora Mabie has been reporting on the community’s reaction to his arrest. She sat down with MTPR’s Elinor Smith to go over the details.

Helena city officials Monday solidified policies for limiting interactions with federal law enforcement. Citing the unrest in Minneapolis, some residents say they aren’t strong enough.

A Belgrade woman pleaded guilty this week to harboring 12 people in the country illegally. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each person without legal status.

A Flathead nonprofit is suing over a state law that allows local police to check immigration status during traffic stops.

A Venezuelan man arrested by federal authorities has been released without explanation after nearly a week in an out-of-state detention facility. That’s according to his attorney.

Three foreign men have been arrested in northern Montana for either illegal entry or reentry into the country. Border Patrol agents claimed those men held gang affiliations, but defense attorneys say there’s no proof of that and criminal cases against two of them men were dismissed.