On Tuesday, Mayor David Bieter announced Boise has been certified as a “Welcoming City” by the national nonprofit Welcoming America. The organization helps communities become more inclusive, especially with immigrants. Boise is only the fifth city in the nation to receive this recognition.

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"Boise is the type of city that values having those folks be in our community and being our neighbors," says mike Journee, director of communications for the city. "Bringing their culture here enriches our community and so it’s one of those things that we’re quite proud of.”

Journee says the “Welcoming Standard” is like a seal of approval for cities on its policies and programs.

But "welcoming city" doesn’t mean "sanctuary city." In a sanctuary city, limits are put on local cooperation with federal immigration officials. This is a means to protect undocumented immigrants from being prosecuted or deported.

Journee says the city doesn’t have any plans to become a sanctuary city.

"What may come down the road in the future, I don’t know. But at this point, we’re really pleased with this designation," he says.

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