JACKSON, Wyo. — Before the Teton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) even got to the agenda during its Tuesday meeting, 16 people stepped up during the general public comment period urging Commissioners to take up a resolution in solidarity with the local immigrant population.
The BCC meeting was already anticipated to draw attention, with the consideration of a development plan for the Northern South Park development. At the end of the meeting, which wrapped up around 4:45 p.m., Commissioners discussed a possible resolution that seeks to strike the right tone and expresses support for Jackson’s immigrant community. They decided to move forward with drafting a document to consider at a meeting next week.
The Wyoming Immigrant Advocacy Project (WIAP) spurred the effort to push a future resolution with language supporting the plight of the local immigrant community. Members from WIAP, Teton Area Rapid Response Network and Jackson Hole Action Coalition, as well as other citizens, showed up to voice support in public comment, which lasted about 35 minutes. WIAP’s executive director Emily Gomez told Buckrail that the organization is “acutely aware of the impact” of this administration’s policies toward immigrants. WIAP wanted to reinforce public support for foreign-born members of the Jackson community and workforce.
“[A resolution] is not going to affect federal immigration; bring on federal immigration reform; or impede ICE from coming to town tomorrow and conducting operations,” Gomez said. She went on to say that a resolution would be an important way to commit to being transparent, respectful, and intolerant of hate, discrimination or harassment, “which is really what this population is feeling right now.”
According to Gomez and WIAP statistics, nearly 200 people have been transferred into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) over the last two years. Gomez said that number is higher when combined with the number of people picked up during two ICE operations in Teton County last year. Buckrail has not independently verified those figures.
“We feel that it is the right moment for our local government to stand in solidarity and affirm its public support for a population that, you know, makes up about a quarter, if not a third, of at least town residents, but also a considerable percentage of county residents,” Gomez said.
Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr attended the BCC meeting during the public comment portion. “I’m supportive of the hardworking immigrant community,” he told Buckrail. He said he was at the meeting to listen and hear the input, and he is interested to see how the Commission will respond. Plainclothes federal officers conducted a targeted arrest in Jackson yesterday, and KHOL reported that Carr was unaware until it had been confirmed after the fact.
After all other agenda items had been discussed for the day, the BCC circled back to the idea of drafting a resolution. Widespread fear and lack of support were cited numerous times in the morning’s public comments. Commissioner Wes Gardener detailed his own realizations after a conversation with one of his Hispanic employees at Teton Toys: “I was kind of dictating what was the right thing to do for all these folks. And when I shut up and listened, I heard loud and clear from somebody who I’m glad was willing to be candid with me.”
In a text message, Commissioner Natalia Macker shared with Buckrail her reaction to the overwhelming public comment, saying: “I’m so grateful to the folks who showed up this morning and raised their voices with love, positivity and urgency in support of the many immigrants who are part of all facets of our community. I am also not surprised. The compassion and care they expressed reflect the community I know.”
