USCRI- Twin Falls

08/04/2026

We hope to see you tonight as we come together to grieve, support one another, and move forward as a stronger Twin Falls community. ❤️🕯️🤝

Together, we heal. Together, we are stronger.

08/03/2026

FREE Community Swim Event 🏊‍♀️

Our community is hurting after the tragic events from this weekend, and we want to offer a place for families, friends, and neighbors to come together, cool off, and share a positive experience.

Open Swim will be FREE on Monday, August 3 from 1:00–5:00 PM & 7:00–9:00 PM.

We look forward to welcoming you.

08/02/2026

The Twin Falls Police Department is providing an update on the tragic shooting that occurred Saturday, August 1, 2026, near In-N-Out. Our priority is to provide the most accurate information available, correct misinformation, and direct victims, families, witnesses, and community members to the proper resources.

Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted. We understand the fear, grief, and concern this has caused in our community.

At approximately 2:29 p.m., the Twin Falls City Communications Center received 911 calls reporting shots fired. Officers, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, responded. The Twin Falls Fire Department and Magic Valley Paramedics also responded, provided aid, and transported victims.

At this time, we can confirm:
• Three victims are deceased
• One suspect is deceased
• Seven victims were injured
• Two injured victims have been treated and released
• Three injured victims are in stable condition
• Two injured victims are in critical condition

These numbers are preliminary and may be updated. Victim identities are not being released at this time out of respect for their families.

The suspect has been identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators are continuing to review evidence, conduct interviews, and determine the full circumstances, including possible motivation.

Investigators are confident the suspect acted alone. Social media posts identifying the shooter as Amer Mandzic are false. We ask the public to avoid spreading unverified information.

We can confirm that an off-duty state trooper and a citizen returned gunfire toward the suspect. We commend their heroic actions, which we believe helped drive the suspect away from the scene and prevent further casualties.

A second officer-involved shooting occurred as officers searched for the suspect. No one was injured in that incident. It is being investigated by the Jerome Police Department.

Crisis counselors will be available today until 8:00 p.m. at Rock Creek Elementary School and on additional days as needed. With the assistance of the FBI, we are working on setting up a seeking victims website and will share that information when it becomes available.

Anyone with video, photos, or digital evidence is asked to submit it to the FBI tip line: www.fbi.gov/twinfallsshooting Anyone with information may contact the Twin Falls City Communications Center at 208-735-4357.

Law enforcement services remain available citywide. Officers from Meridian PD, Caldwell PD, Nampa PD, and the Idaho State Police are working side-by-side with our officers to provide patrol coverage.

We are grateful to law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatchers, medical teams, and partner agencies who responded with courage and compassion.

We remain committed to transparency and will provide updates as soon as we are able.

08/02/2026

Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic mass shooting that has deeply impacted our Twin Falls community.

We extend our deepest thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families and loved ones, the Twin Falls Police Department 👮‍♀️, the courageous first responders 🚑, the dedicated healthcare professionals caring for those who were injured 🏥, and every member of our community affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.

In moments like these, we are reminded that the strength of our community lies in our compassion, unity, and willingness to stand together.

USCRI Twin Falls remains committed to supporting our community in every way we can. We stand ready to offer compassion, resources, and assistance as our neighbors heal and recover.

Together, we grieve. Together, we support one another. Together, we will move forward. 🕊️❤️

07/02/2026

🇺🇸❤️ Refugees know the value of freedom because many have lived without it.

It was an honor to participate in a discussion hosted by Boise State Public Radio in partnership with NPR, alongside the CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, as we celebrated America’s 250th anniversary.

As we reflected on our nation’s past and future, one message stood out: America’s story continues to be written by people who believe in freedom, opportunity, and the promise of a better life. Refugees embody these values, strengthening our communities through resilience, hard work, and hope.

Here’s to 250 years of freedom—and to building a future where everyone has the opportunity to belong. 🇺🇸🤝🗽❤️

06/21/2026

❤️🌍Thank you, Twin Falls 🌍❤️

Last night, as we celebrated World Refugee Day alongside Juneteenth, we witnessed the very best of our community.

We are deeply grateful to the 79 donors, sponsors, businesses, organizations, community leaders, volunteers, and supporters who helped make this event possible. Your generosity and commitment remind us that Twin Falls is a place where people are welcomed, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive.

A special thank you to our incredible USCRI staff, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes—collecting donations, organizing logistics, decorating, setting up, welcoming guests, and staying late into the night to clean up. Your dedication made the event a success. ❤️

We are also grateful to the refugee families who shared their cultures through food, art, music, and stories. To those who spent hours preparing and cooking delicious meals for our community, thank you for sharing a piece of home with all of us. 🌎🍽️

To those who advocate for others, open doors, create opportunities, and help build a community where everyone belongs—thank you.

Special thanks to Gas Lamp for providing the space that brought us together.

Last night was a beautiful reminder that neighbors supporting neighbors is more than a slogan—it is who we are. Thank you for standing with refugee families and helping make Twin Falls a place of hope, opportunity, and belonging for all. ❤️🤝🇺🇸

🙏🏽✨🌍❤️

06/01/2026

📅 Friday, June 19, 2026 | ⏰ 6:00 PM
📍269 3rd Ave S, Twin Falls, ID 83301

🌎🤝 World Refugee Day is not about politics—it is about people, community, safety, work, family, and hope. ❤️🏡

The Magic Valley has long been known as a welcoming community where neighbors support neighbors and people from all walks of life come together to build a stronger future. 🌾🇺🇸

Join us for an inspiring evening featuring leaders from law enforcement 👮, Idaho's dairy industry 🐄, government affairs 🏛️, education 🎓, and community service ❤️ as we reflect on the values that make our community special.

✨ Enjoy cuisine from different parts of the world, connect with friends and neighbors, and hear powerful stories of resilience, service, and community. 🍽️🌍

Come listen. Come learn. Come be part of the conversation. 💬🤗

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)IDAHO Idaho Office for Refugees ChobaniUnity Alliance of Southern IdahoIdaho Dairymen's AssociationIdaho Milk ProductsIdaho Community FoundationTwin Falls Police Department Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce UNHCR, the UN Refugee AgencyFamily Health Services

🎟️ Tickets are available now—we would be honored to have you join us as we celebrate the spirit of community, opportunity, and hope that defines the Magic Valley. 🇺🇸🌟

Purchase your ticket here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/world-of-hope-gala--2026

05/08/2026

What an honor it was to participate in the Valley House event💙🏡

We are truly grateful for everything Valley House does for our community. Their work brings hope, compassion, and stability to so many individuals and families in need. 🤝✨

It is deeply comforting to know there is a place where people can go to seek safety, feel supported, and find a place to call home. 🕊️❤️

Thank you, Valley House, for being a light in our community and for changing lives every single day. 🌟🙏::

05/01/2026

Meet Vincent. 💙

Vincent is a refugee.
A young man who came here searching for safety… but still couldn’t find a place to truly belong.
He just turned 20.
He doesn’t speak.
He can’t hear.
And for most of his life… the world moved around him — without him.
Imagine standing behind a glass wall 🪟
Watching everyone else connect, learn, laugh…
While you’re left trying to figure out how to break through.
That was Vincent’s reality.
At home, things were getting harder.
Not because he wasn’t loved — he was. Deeply. ❤️
But when you can’t communicate the way the world expects…
When school doesn’t fit…
When work feels out of reach…
When even transportation becomes a barrier…
The silence became heavy. 💔
Vincent didn’t need pity.
He needed a chance to belong.
And then… something changed. 💙
Refugee case managers stepped in — not to “fix” him, but to stand with him. 🤝
They sat with him in the uncertainty.
They didn’t rush him.
They didn’t give up.
They searched — truly searched — until they found a place that could meet Vincent where he was.
And that place was the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind. 📚✨
A place that didn’t just see Vincent…
but understood him.
A place that became a turning point in his life.
But finding the right school wasn’t enough.
They made sure he could get there. Every. Single. Day. 🚐
Because for Vincent, one missed ride wasn’t an inconvenience — it was a barrier.
They walked beside him into a world that had never been designed for someone like him.
They advocated for him.
They helped others see his strengths. 💼🌟
And when he needed stability — a place to rest, to feel safe — they made that happen too. 🏡
This wasn’t easy.
It was slow.
Intentional.
Relentless.
Appointment by appointment.
Obstacle by obstacle.
Breakthrough by breakthrough.
And Vincent?
He showed up. Every time. 💪
And then one day…
He got a job. 🎉
He found a safe place to live. 🏡
But more importantly…
He found something he had never truly felt before.
Belonging. 💙
You can see it now — in the way he carries himself.
✨ Confidence
✨ Independence
✨ Hope
That quiet spark?
That’s what it looks like when someone finally feels seen.
When a refugee who once felt invisible… finally knows they matter.
We pass by people like Vincent every day.
In our communities.
In our neighborhoods.
Sometimes without even realizing it.
But this team didn’t look away.
They saw a young refugee running out of road
and they said, we will not leave him here.
And because of that…
Vincent no longer stands behind that glass wall.
He belongs. 💙
💙 To case managers and all those doing this work — the unseen, the quiet, the relentless — this is what impact looks like.
💙 And to anyone who feels invisible… like you don’t belong —
Hold on.
Your place is out there.
And someone will help you find it. ✨
If this moved you, please share it.
Someone out there needs this reminder today. 💙

04/24/2026