Idaho Saloon’s Immigration Controversy Creates Community Divide
In a small corner of Eagle, Idaho, The Old State Saloon has sparked intense debate with its controversial social media promotion offering “free beer for one month” to patrons who assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants. The establishment, owned by Mark Fitzpatrick, announced the promotion on X (formerly Twitter), stating they would reward anyone who helps “identify and ultimately deport an illegal from Idaho.” Taking the offer further, the saloon suggested they “may award multiple months to one person if multiple illegals are deported” and even created a dedicated email address where people could submit evidence of their involvement in deportations. This unconventional marketing strategy quickly caught fire online, drawing both passionate support and fierce criticism from different segments of the community.
The promotion gained immediate traction when the Department of Homeland Security reposted the saloon’s announcement, adding a GIF expressing apparent surprise at the offer. The Old State Saloon enthusiastically responded to DHS’s repost with “Let’s go! Deport them all!” – cementing their position on the controversial issue. The campaign appears to have already found participants, with the saloon publicly acknowledging Ryan Spoon, vice chair of the Ada County Republican Central Committee in Idaho, as their first recipient of the free beer reward. According to their social media posts, Spoon provided evidence of assisting ICE with an arrest, earning him complimentary access to any of the establishment’s 20 draft beer options. The promotion even inspired suggestions from followers, including a proposal to create a “Deporter of the Year” leaderboard that would offer additional rewards to the person who facilitated the most deportations by year’s end.
Support for the saloon’s initiative emerged quickly among conservative voices. Bo Loudon, a Gen Z conservative influencer, praised the campaign as an “incredible idea” on social media, adding “This is why I love the United States.” The establishment’s social media accounts showcase numerous supportive comments from individuals who align with the saloon’s political stance. The Old State Saloon appears to have embraced its identity as a politically charged establishment, incorporating controversial messaging into its brand image. Its social media biography proudly declares that “liberals around the world hate us,” while claiming to be the “Birthplace of Heterosexual Awesomeness Month” – a direct counter-programming to Pride Month celebrations that has further cemented the bar’s reputation as a politically conservative gathering place in the community.
While the promotion attracted supporters, it simultaneously generated significant backlash from those who view the campaign as promoting discrimination and potentially dangerous vigilantism. Critics have called for boycotts of the establishment, flooding its online presence with negative reviews and condemnation. Rather than backing down from the criticism, The Old State Saloon has doubled down by reposting negative Google reviews and dismissing them as coming from what they call the “loser LEFT.” This confrontational approach has only intensified the polarized reactions, turning what might have been a local business promotion into a national flashpoint in the broader immigration debate. The controversy highlights the growing tendency of businesses to stake out explicit political positions in an increasingly divided cultural landscape, where even local establishments become battlegrounds for national political tensions.
The Old State Saloon is no stranger to politically charged promotions that challenge progressive sensibilities. Earlier in 2024, owner Mark Fitzpatrick announced that his establishment would counter Pride Month celebrations in June with what he called “Heterosexual Awesomeness Month,” featuring discounts and free beer specifically for heterosexual men, women, and couples. The saloon has expanded its political identity into merchandise, selling shirts emblazoned with slogans like “Make America Straight Again” – a play on the familiar Trump campaign slogan that redirects it toward sexuality. These calculated positioning moves suggest the saloon has deliberately cultivated a brand identity that appeals to customers who feel their traditional values are under siege in contemporary American culture, creating a business model that intertwines commercial interests with political identity.
The situation at The Old State Saloon represents a microcosm of America’s deeply polarized social and political landscape, where even local businesses become symbolic battlegrounds for national conflicts over immigration, sexuality, and cultural values. What might once have remained a local controversy now spreads instantly through social media, drawing national attention and participation from individuals who will never set foot in the establishment. The Department of Homeland Security’s repost of the promotion raises questions about the relationship between government agencies and civilian efforts to enforce immigration law, though DHS has not provided official comment on the matter. As the story continues to unfold, The Old State Saloon stands as a case study in how American businesses navigate – or deliberately inflame – the nation’s cultural divides, turning everyday commerce into extensions of political identity. Whether the promotion ultimately benefits or harms the establishment’s business remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly succeeded in generating the one commodity valued by both sides of America’s political divide: attention.
