A controversial new partnership between the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is drawing heat from civil rights advocates across the state.
Governor Mark Gordon recently announced that WHP has joined the federal 287(g) program, giving some state troopers the green light to help ICE with limited immigration enforcement duties. But the move isn’t sitting well with the ACLU of Wyoming, which says the deal threatens community trust, encourages racial profiling, and puts politics over people.
“We were disappointed to learn about this new cooperation,” said Janna Farley, communications director for the ACLU of Wyoming. “Everyone should feel safe interacting with local law enforcement without worrying they’re acting as ICE agents.”
Under the agreement, WHP troopers will get ICE training and limited authority to assist with immigration enforcement — identifying possible undocumented immigrants, gathering evidence, and supporting ICE investigations. The focus, WHP leadership insists, is narrow and controlled.
“This is not carte blanche,” said Col. Tim Cameron, head of the Highway Patrol. “It gives very specific and limited authority under ICE’s direction.”
Cameron added that only one to two troopers per county (in Laramie, Carbon, Sweetwater, Natrona, and Campbell counties) will participate for now. These areas were chosen because they’re along major highways — common routes for cross-country travel.
But civil liberties groups say it’s a slippery slope.
“This is just going to increase profiling and decrease trust,” said Antonio Serrano, policy director at ACLU Wyoming.
He and others worry that immigrants — even those with legal status — may become afraid to report crimes or cooperate with police if they fear being targeted or detained.
“The idea that this makes Wyoming safer is far-fetched,” Farley said. “It puts politics ahead of the needs and safety of our communities.”
Serrano also blasted the lack of public input: “People are enacting huge policies that have a massive impact without any constituent involvement.”
Gov. Gordon has been leaning harder into immigration issues lately. He’s already sent WHP troopers to assist Texas with border enforcement and now says every state is a “border state.” In a press release, he claimed the WHP–ICE deal “is another step in our commitment to securing the border.”
But just months ago, Gordon expressed hesitation about Wyoming law enforcement diving too deep into immigration enforcement, saying it should be a federal responsibility. His team now says this new partnership is about assisting, not taking the lead.
Still, opponents argue this kind of “assistance” can have chilling effects — especially in tight-knit immigrant communities where people already feel on edge. An ICE operation in western Wyoming earlier this summer reportedly caused local workers to stay home and even scared families away from a county fair event.
“This agreement reinforces the message that immigrant families are not welcome in Wyoming,” Serrano said. “That kind of fear doesn’t just hurt immigrants — it hurts entire communities.”
The ACLU of Wyoming has resources available in English and Spanish to help residents understand their rights when interacting with law enforcement. You can learn more at aclu.org or email [email protected] for a free “Know Your Rights” packet.
As of now, WHP joins five county sheriffs’ departments already partnered with ICE under 287(g). And while there’s no added cost to the state, critics say the price is paid in trust — and that’s something no training course can fix.
With input from Wyoming News Now and WyoFile.
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