East Idaho GOP Cite Refugees in Community College Opposition

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Republican officials in eastern Idaho say they oppose a plan to build a community college because it might lead to a new refugee resettlement center in the region.

The Post Register reports the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee approved a resolution last week that called the project unnecessary and contrary to the GOP platform. The committee's opposition comes at a time when Bonneville County residents are slated to decide if they want to fund a new community college this May.

GOP official Larry Lyon says the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls helped pave the way to launch a federally-funded refugee resettlement center, which has attracted growing criticism from far-right and anti-immigration groups. Lyon added it's unclear what "weird stuff" the college might do if it's built. Currently, Idaho has refugee resettlement centers in Boise and Twin Falls.