Rachel Spacek
@rachelspacek.bsky.social
Investigative Reporter at InvestigateWest. investigatewest.org
Highly recommend this series by my colleagues Whitney Bryen & @wilsonc.bsky.social They spent a year interviewing women who were sexually abused by prison guards & staff in Idaho, digging through court recordings, and public records and it SHOWS in this work.
Guarded by Predators
A new series by InvestigateWest exposing rape and abuse by Idaho’s prison guards and the system that shields them.
www.investigatewest.org
October 15, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Highly recommend this series by my colleagues Whitney Bryen & @wilsonc.bsky.social They spent a year interviewing women who were sexually abused by prison guards & staff in Idaho, digging through court recordings, and public records and it SHOWS in this work.
Help us investigate how Trump’s immigration orders are impacting the Pacific Northwest:
www.investigatewest.org/help-investi...
www.investigatewest.org/help-investi...
How are Trump's immigration orders impacting you?
Share your story with InvestigateWest reporter Rachel Spacek
www.investigatewest.org
September 30, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Help us investigate how Trump’s immigration orders are impacting the Pacific Northwest:
www.investigatewest.org/help-investi...
www.investigatewest.org/help-investi...
Update for @investigatewest.bsky.social: County commissioners are standing by Owyhee County Sheriff Larry Kendrick, who was accused by former employees of racist and discriminatory conduct.
Local officials aren’t concerned about accusations of racism against an Idaho sheriff, despite calls for accountability
An extremism watchdog group said the sheriff’s rhetoric about immigrants is “disturbing” and could fuel violence
www.investigatewest.org
August 28, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Update for @investigatewest.bsky.social: County commissioners are standing by Owyhee County Sheriff Larry Kendrick, who was accused by former employees of racist and discriminatory conduct.
Reposted by Rachel Spacek
How have immigration officers tracked down unaccompanied minors for those "welfare checks" widely reported across the U.S.? Sometimes, by getting their addresses from school resource officers
@rachelspacek.bsky.social breaks down how this happened in Idaho www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
@rachelspacek.bsky.social breaks down how this happened in Idaho www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
Homeland Security’s ‘welfare’ check on Idaho migrant students raises school privacy questions
In other parts of the country, the welfare checks have resulted in children being taken out of their homes and put back into government custody
www.investigatewest.org
August 5, 2025 at 8:04 PM
How have immigration officers tracked down unaccompanied minors for those "welfare checks" widely reported across the U.S.? Sometimes, by getting their addresses from school resource officers
@rachelspacek.bsky.social breaks down how this happened in Idaho www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
@rachelspacek.bsky.social breaks down how this happened in Idaho www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
Department of Homeland Security agents asked school districts in Idaho for information on unaccompanied migrant students, a process that in other states has resulted in immigration enforcement of parents/guardians and children taken back into gov. custody. My latest for @investigatewest.bsky.social
Homeland Security’s ‘welfare’ check on Idaho migrant students raises school privacy questions
In other parts of the country, the welfare checks have resulted in children being taken out of their homes and put back into government custody
www.investigatewest.org
August 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Department of Homeland Security agents asked school districts in Idaho for information on unaccompanied migrant students, a process that in other states has resulted in immigration enforcement of parents/guardians and children taken back into gov. custody. My latest for @investigatewest.bsky.social
Reposted by Rachel Spacek
What should you know about the first Idaho county to sign up for the 287(g) program? Former employees have accused the sheriff of racism, retaliation and more.
Read this investigation from @rachelspacek.bsky.social & @investigatewest.bsky.social www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
Read this investigation from @rachelspacek.bsky.social & @investigatewest.bsky.social www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
Accused of racism and retaliation, this Idaho sheriff is now working with ICE
Former employees say Sheriff Larry Kendrick made racist jokes at work and was demeaning to women
www.investigatewest.org
July 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
What should you know about the first Idaho county to sign up for the 287(g) program? Former employees have accused the sheriff of racism, retaliation and more.
Read this investigation from @rachelspacek.bsky.social & @investigatewest.bsky.social www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
Read this investigation from @rachelspacek.bsky.social & @investigatewest.bsky.social www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
I talked to former employees of the Owyhee County Sheriff's Office for months for this story. They accused Sheriff Larry Kendrick of racism and retaliation and now worry that the county's agreement 287g agreement with ICE could embolden Kendrick to harass and target Latinos.
Accused of racism and retaliation, this Idaho sheriff is now working with ICE
Former employees say Sheriff Larry Kendrick made racist jokes at work and was demeaning to women
www.investigatewest.org
July 21, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I talked to former employees of the Owyhee County Sheriff's Office for months for this story. They accused Sheriff Larry Kendrick of racism and retaliation and now worry that the county's agreement 287g agreement with ICE could embolden Kendrick to harass and target Latinos.
A must read story: A family in Idaho/Nevada who is searching for answers about the death of their family members at the hands of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Idaho, a year later.
NEW: Families paint a picture of the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a black hole of information, rarely communicating anything and providing no public accounting of the circumstances of deaths at the hands of its officers.
Two killings, no explanation: Families left reeling after Bureau of Indian Affairs shootings
Lack of transparency in BIA police killings leave families searching for answers
www.investigatewest.org
May 16, 2025 at 8:08 PM
A must read story: A family in Idaho/Nevada who is searching for answers about the death of their family members at the hands of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Idaho, a year later.
Reposted by Rachel Spacek
Five Idaho international students, who had previously lost their student visas or supporting documents, had their legal status restored over the weekend, according to college and university officials.
www.idahoednews.org/news/five-id... #idedu
www.idahoednews.org/news/five-id... #idedu
Five Idaho international students’ legal status restored after Trump administration shift
Five Idaho international students, who had previously lost their student visas or supporting documents, had their legal status restored over the weekend, according to college and university officia…
www.idahoednews.org
April 28, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Five Idaho international students, who had previously lost their student visas or supporting documents, had their legal status restored over the weekend, according to college and university officials.
www.idahoednews.org/news/five-id... #idedu
www.idahoednews.org/news/five-id... #idedu
“If this is happening, I would be hesitant to report a crime myself:" Idaho’s Owyhee County joins ICE agreement to enforce immigration law (for @investigatewest.bsky.social)
Idaho’s Owyhee County joins ICE agreement to enforce immigration law
ICE's 287(g) agreements — ended under the Obama administration following abuses like racial profiling of Latinos — are back
www.investigatewest.org
April 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
“If this is happening, I would be hesitant to report a crime myself:" Idaho’s Owyhee County joins ICE agreement to enforce immigration law (for @investigatewest.bsky.social)
Reposted by Rachel Spacek
Great reporting on how local law enforcement in northern Idaho are collaborating with ICE to detain and deport people whose only "crime" is being undocumented.
Investigation: Emails between Kootenai County deputies and federal immigration agents show a coordinated effort to target undocumented people for immigration enforcement when they hadn't committed recent state crimes. My latest for @investigatewest.bsky.social
‘We have lots of work for you guys’ — emails show coordination between deputies in Idaho’s Kootenai County and immigration officials
Cooperation with federal authorities tests bounds of law and policy, stirs fear in immigrant communities
www.investigatewest.org
April 9, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Great reporting on how local law enforcement in northern Idaho are collaborating with ICE to detain and deport people whose only "crime" is being undocumented.
Investigation: Emails between Kootenai County deputies and federal immigration agents show a coordinated effort to target undocumented people for immigration enforcement when they hadn't committed recent state crimes. My latest for @investigatewest.bsky.social
‘We have lots of work for you guys’ — emails show coordination between deputies in Idaho’s Kootenai County and immigration officials
Cooperation with federal authorities tests bounds of law and policy, stirs fear in immigrant communities
www.investigatewest.org
April 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Investigation: Emails between Kootenai County deputies and federal immigration agents show a coordinated effort to target undocumented people for immigration enforcement when they hadn't committed recent state crimes. My latest for @investigatewest.bsky.social
Reposted by Rachel Spacek
NEW: As the Trump administration seeks tips on migrants, some have turned the ICE hot line into a weapon, reports InvestigateWest’s democracy reporter.
‘You can report her, too!’ Right-wing Idaho activist targets Republican legislator with calls for ICE raids
As Trump administration seeks tips on migrants, some have turned tip line into a weapon
www.investigatewest.org
March 26, 2025 at 1:59 PM
NEW: As the Trump administration seeks tips on migrants, some have turned the ICE hot line into a weapon, reports InvestigateWest’s democracy reporter.
We are looking for an investigative editor @investigatewest.bsky.social DM me if you have questions, I am happy to talk about what I'm hoping for in an editor! www.investigatewest.org/pnw/Careersa...
Work with Us
Job Openings HIRING: Investigative editor InvestigateWest is seeking a full-time investigative editor to oversee a team of staff reporters and freelancers working across the Pacific...
www.investigatewest.org
March 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
We are looking for an investigative editor @investigatewest.bsky.social DM me if you have questions, I am happy to talk about what I'm hoping for in an editor! www.investigatewest.org/pnw/Careersa...
Last week was a "roller coaster" for unaccompanied migrant children and the organizations that represent them in immigration court. I spoke with immigration advocates and lawyers in Washington about the impact of these Trump administration orders on children
www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
‘Fear and uncertainty:’ Advocates, immigrants on edge following flurry of contradictory orders
Attorneys for unaccompanied minors ordered to stop work without explanation, followed by sudden reversal
www.investigatewest.org
February 28, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Last week was a "roller coaster" for unaccompanied migrant children and the organizations that represent them in immigration court. I spoke with immigration advocates and lawyers in Washington about the impact of these Trump administration orders on children
www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
Reposted by Rachel Spacek
BREAKING news from @ryansuppe.bsky.social www.idahoednews.org/top-news/gov...
Gov. Little signs private school tax credit into law
“Idaho can have it all — strong public schools and education freedom,” the Republican governor said.
www.idahoednews.org
February 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
BREAKING news from @ryansuppe.bsky.social www.idahoednews.org/top-news/gov...