Idaho Bar Owner Says Viral ‘Free Beer for Reporting Immigrants’ Promo Sparked Death Threats

Owner of Old State Saloon Reports Threats After Viral ICE-Related Promotion

Mark Fitzpatrick, owner of the Old State Saloon in Idaho, says his business has been inundated with both praise and threats after a social media promotion offering free beer to people who help immigration authorities identify and remove an undocumented immigrant went viral.

The post, published on X on Nov. 29, was viewed nearly 8 million times after the Department of Homeland Security reshared it, drawing supportive messages as well as angry responses and direct threats — including messages threatening to burn down the saloon and to kill Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick told Fox News Digital that his saloon has long expressed what he described as conservative Christian values, and that blunt commentary about what he perceives as societal "deception" and "evil" often elicits strong reactions.

He said the idea for the promotion grew out of frustration with recent federal immigration policy. "I think the last four years of President Biden's immigration policies have been a complete disaster," Fitzpatrick said, adding that he believes those policies have encouraged dangerous people to enter the country.

"What liberals want to do is they attack you. They go on attack and they start calling you names," Fitzpatrick said, describing some of the online pushback.

Fitzpatrick said he and his family have received "disgusting" messages and voicemails, including threats to set the saloon on fire and statements wishing him dead. He described the threats as "really, really despicable."

Despite the backlash, Fitzpatrick said the promotion was intended to support law enforcement and ICE and to generate public discussion about immigration. He also said the attention has produced a wave of supportive mail and visits from patrons who want to encourage him in person.

The saloon has continued running themed promotions throughout the month. Examples include "Manly American Monday" — free beer for men who say they support ICE just for entering the bar — a Tuesday offer of free beer for women who report undocumented immigrants to ICE, and a Wednesday discount of 10% off the bill for heterosexual couples.

Fitzpatrick does not expect many people to redeem the free-beer offers, but he said Ryan Spoon, vice chair of the Ada County Republican Central Committee, claimed a beer after presenting evidence that he had assisted ICE in an arrest.

Fitzpatrick said the promotions are less about beer than about drawing attention to immigration issues and provoking conversation. "It's drawing attention to the issue and conversations are happening," he said.