Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has authorized state troopers to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in immigration enforcement efforts. The agreement enables limited members of the Wyoming Highway Patrol in five counties — Laramie, Carbon, Sweetwater, Campbell, and Natrona — to assist ICE with tracking and detaining illegal immigrants. According to a statement from Gordon’s office, the troopers will operate under ICE’s oversight during their day-to-day duties and when directed by federal agents. This agreement marks only the second direct state-ICE pact, following Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ similar memorandum of agreement. Gordon emphasized Wyoming’s commitment to securing the border and noted that the pact strengthens national security by enhancing immigration enforcement. The collaboration leverages Wyoming’s strategic location, with major highways like I-80 and I-25 serving as key corridors for cross-country travel and potential illegal activity. Wyoming taxpayers will not bear additional costs for the partnership, as federal training will cover officer expenses.
Wyoming Highway Patrol Administrator Col. Tim Cameron highlighted the state’s unique position of hosting several cross-country highways, stating that troopers are “uniquely positioned to support immigration enforcement through our daily operations.” The nation’s longest interstate, the Boston-Seattle I-90, runs 200 miles through the upper corner of the state, while the New Jersey-San Francisco I-80 stretches 400 miles across Wyoming. I-25, a critical corridor from the southern border in New Mexico to I-90 in Buffalo, also runs through the state, further justifying the collaboration. The selected troopers will work in Laramie County, which includes the capital, Cheyenne; Carbon County, with Rawlins; and Sweetwater County, covering Rock Springs, Green River, and a long stretch of I-80. Campbell and Natrona counties, where I-25 bisects both, will also participate. Cameron noted that the agreement “enhances our ability to identify individuals in violation of federal immigration law and take appropriate action under ICE’s direction.”
Robert Guadian, a top official at ICE’s Denver Field office, praised the partnership, calling it a “force multiplier” in immigration enforcement. Wyoming had previously independently dispatched troopers to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety at the southern border during the Biden administration’s open border crisis. The move is part of a broader trend as several counties nationwide have approved methods of cooperation with ICE. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was the first to sign a similar agreement, setting a precedent. This collaboration underscores ongoing efforts to bolster border security and address illegal immigration. In addition, a Senate bill aims to prevent future presidents from circumventing immigration enforcement laws, reinforcing the political significance of this development.