FEBRUARY 13, 2025|
♥Photo♥ Cheri Steinmetz discusses Senate File 124 – Legislature Zoom
In the Wyoming Legislature, The Senate Committee of the Whole failed to pass a bill tightening the state’s regulations against illegal immigrants.
The Carbon County Sheriff’s Department has begun to enforce administrative warrants against illegal immigrants through the ICE 287(g) program. The law allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to delegate limited immigration enforcement authority to state and local law enforcement agencies.
The Sheriff’s Office will hold inmates in the county jail that are wanted by ICE until federal agents arrive to transfer the subject into federal custody.
Some members of the legislature believe that counties should not be given a choice when it comes to enforcing federal immigration laws.
On Monday, February 10th, the Wyoming Senate Committee of the Whole considered Senate File 124, titled Illegal Immigration-Identify, Report, Detain and Deport. The bill would have made it illegal for local governments to pass any laws preventing law enforcement officers from complying with federal immigration laws.
The bill also sets penalties for knowingly transporting, hiding, or employing illegal immigrants in Wyoming.
Additionally, Senate File 124 would require the Wyoming Attorney General and every county sheriff in the state to enter a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to enforce federal immigration laws.
The bill was passed by both the Senate Judiciary and Joint Appropriations Committees with numerous amendments.
By the time Senate File 124 came before the Senate Committee of the Whole for final consideration, the bill’s sponsor, Senator Cheri Steinmetz, representing Goshen, Niobrara and Weston Counties, explained that the measure had been amended by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senator Steinmetz said an additional amendment has been proposed to Senate File 124 to exclude immigrants who legally entered the county under the Visa program, but had their permit expire while waiting for renewal. However, the bill as presented did not contain those changes.
Senator Tara Nethercott of Laramie County said that the bill requires the Wyoming Attorney General to negotiate the Memorandum of Understanding between the state and the US Department of Justice. Senator Nethercott asked why the measure has the Attorney General, who does not have any authority over local law enforcement, negotiate the MOU with the federal government.
Senator Nethercott said all 99 cities, towns, and counties in Wyoming would need to sign an MOU with the Attorney General before being bound to any agreement with Washington D.C. The senator added that most of the state’s law enforcement agencies already have agreements in place with the federal government to enforce immigration laws.
President of the Senate Bo Biteman said Senate File 124, in its current state, should not be passed.
Senator Mike Gierau agreed with Senate President Biteman that the bill should not pass. Senator Gierau said he is personally worried about how many amendments and possible amendments Senator Steinmetz introduced with the bill.
Following the discussion, the Senate Committee of the Whole voted not to pass Senate File 124, with 10 votes in favor and 20 against. The measure has been indefinitely postponed.
