WYOMING — Gov. Mark Gordon’s office has announced that the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) will participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) 287(g) program to “assist ICE with immigration enforcement while performing their regular duties.”
Under the new Memorandum of Agreement, WHP officers have the green light to “take action and develop evidence when they encounter individuals who are in violation of U.S. immigration laws,” per the governor’s announcement. Officers will be allowed to “take appropriate detention actions” under ICE direction.
“Wyoming has been firm in our commitment to helping secure the border, and this is another step in that process,” Gordon said in the announcement. “Our nation’s security depends upon effective immigration enforcement, and I am proud that our Wyoming Highway Patrol continues to support this effort and is now formalizing their commitment to this work through our agreement with ICE.”
WHP officers will have access to ICE databases, and they will receive program training.
“The signing of this agreement and the Wyoming Highway Patrol joining the 287(g) program is a great force multiplier for my ICE officers in Wyoming,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Denver Field Office Director Robert Guadian said in a statement. “I applaud the Governor for joining with us to keep Wyoming communities safe.”
Five of the state’s county sheriff’s offices are enrolled in the program: Campbell, Carbon, Laramie, Natrona and Sweetwater. WHP will be working in partnership with those counties, according to the announcement.
“Our troopers are uniquely positioned to support immigration enforcement through our daily operations along Wyoming’s interstates — key corridors for cross-country travel that are sometimes exploited for unlawful activity,” WHP Administrator Col. Tim Cameron said in the announcement. “The 287(g) agreement enhances our ability to identify individuals in violation of federal immigration law and take appropriate action under ICE’s direction.”
