Monday, AUGUST 4, 2025|
As the Wyoming Highway Patrol begins assisting federal immigration efforts, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office clarifies the role its deputies will play in the process.
On Monday, July 28th, Governor Mark Gordon announced that Wyoming Highway Patrol will join ICE’s 287(g) program to assist with immigration enforcement.
In 1996, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, created the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. Section 287(g) of the bill allows ICE to delegate limited immigration enforcement authority to state and local law enforcement agencies.
In January, Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken announced that he was negotiating with ICE to have deputies participate in the 287(g) program.
According to an article on WyoFile.com, the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s agreement to arrest undocumented immigrants in five counties, including Carbon County, has raised concerns from Wyoming American Civil Liberties Union Director Antonio Serrano. WyoFile reports that Serrano criticized the sheriffs who signed contracts with ICE without offering the public a chance to comment.
Bigfoot99 reached out to Carbon County Sheriff Bakken to clarify what his deputies will be required to do under ICE’s 287(g) program. Sheriff Bakken explained that the purpose of the program is to facilitate the transfer of illegal aliens already detained in the Carbon County Jail to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Sheriff said his deputies are not legally permitted to arrest a person solely on their immigration status.
Under the current system, Sheriff Bakken said ICE requests weekly updates on inmates housed at the Carbon County Jail. If a detainee is wanted by ICE, the Sheriff’s Office will hold them for 48 hours while agents come from Cheyenne to take custody of the inmate.
Sheriff Bakken said the mainstream media is mistakenly reporting that local law enforcement officers are acting as ICE agents. The sheriff said the 287(g) program simply enables his department to arrest suspects on behalf of ICE, providing the federal agency with more opportunities to take the inmate into custody.
Sheriff Bakken said ICE detainers are uncommon, with only one or two issued each year.
Bigfoot99 asked Sheriff Bakken to respond to Wyoming ACLU Director Antonio Serrano’s criticism over the lack of public input. The Sheriff said he presented the 287(g) agreement to the Board of Carbon County Commissions and shared information about it on social media. Sheriff Bakken reported strong public support for the initiative.
When the initiative was first proposed, Sheriff Bakken said he contacted both Carbon County School Districts about holding a presentation explaining exactly what the 287(g) program entails. However, both school districts chose not to participate.
In the WyoFile.com article, ACLU Director Antonio Serrano is quoted as saying participation in the 287(g) program would “make immigrants less likely to call law enforcement to report crimes or testify as witnesses.”
Sheriff Bakken said Serrano may be correct in his assumption. However, the Sheriff attributed concerns within the immigrant community to a general misunderstanding of the ICE program, rather than to the expanded authority his office would gain under the agreement.
At the time of reporting, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office has not officially entered into the agreement to execute ICE detainer warrants. Sheriff Bakken said the Carbon County Attorney’s Office is still reviewing the contract. The Sheriff said he doesn’t know when the agreement will be finalized but estimated that it may take at least another month.
Sheriff Bakken said he fully supports his department’s future participation in the 287(g) program.
For more information about ICE detainers and the 287(g) program, call Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken at 212-1355.
