Wyoming Highway Patrol Teams Up with ICE to Enforce Immigration Laws

Wyoming troopers are getting some new responsibilities — ones that usually belong to federal agents.

Thanks to a new agreement signed by Gov. Mark Gordon, Wyoming Highway Patrol officers can now help enforce federal immigration laws alongside US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

This move follows a 2017 executive order from then-President Donald Trump, which encouraged local police across the country to work more closely with federal immigration officials. Now, years later, Wyoming is officially jumping on board.

The agreement, called a “287(g) Memorandum of Agreement,” lets Highway Patrol officers perform certain ICE duties — but under ICE supervision. That includes detaining people suspected of being in the country illegally and accessing ICE databases to check immigration status.

“This is about supporting our national security and doing our part, even though we’re a thousand miles from the southern border,” Gordon said in a press release. “I’m proud Wyoming is stepping up.”

Troopers won’t be going rogue — they’ll be trained by ICE (free of charge, per the Trump order) and will only act within the scope of ICE’s direction. Still, it marks a significant shift for a state better known for its wide-open highways than border patrol.

Colonel Tim Cameron, who heads the Wyoming Highway Patrol, says the partnership makes sense, especially since Wyoming’s interstates are major routes for cross-country traffic — and sometimes, illegal activity.

“Our troopers are out there every day,” Cameron said. “This agreement helps us spot and respond to immigration violations we might already be coming across.”

Wyoming joins a growing list of states and counties nationwide that are working with ICE under the 287(g) program. You can check ICE’s website to see where similar agreements are already in place.

The original story by Garrett Grochowski for Oil City News.