Sheriff Seeks Dismissal of Immigration Enforcement Lawsuit
Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak has requested a judge to dismiss a lawsuit contesting three agreements his office reached last year with the federal government aimed at enforcing immigration laws.
Background of the Lawsuit
Last month, a coalition of churches, nonprofit organizations, and barbershops, spearheaded by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), filed a lawsuit against Kozak and the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office. The plaintiffs are challenging the 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which permit local and state law enforcement agencies to perform certain immigration enforcement activities under ICE’s oversight.
Legal Claims Against the Sheriff’s Office
The lawsuit accuses Sheriff Kozak and his department of failing to adhere to required legal procedures and overstepping their authority in finalizing the agreements. The complaint asserts that these actions have imposed significant financial and resource burdens on the plaintiffs.
Response from the Sheriff’s Legal Counsel
In response to the lawsuit, Amy Iberlin, the attorney representing Sheriff Kozak, characterized the claims as “fatally flawed,” arguing that the plaintiffs did not meet the notification requirements mandated by the Wyoming Government Claims Act.
Allegations of Lack of Legal Standing
The defense also contends that the plaintiffs lack standing, implying they do not possess a direct contractual relationship or have suffered recognizable harm to justify a lawsuit. “Plaintiffs fail to allege specific, legally protected damages, instead asserting general grievances insufficient to exercise the jurisdiction of this court,” the motion to dismiss indicates.
Implications of ICE Agreements
The judge is expected to determine the validity of the dismissal request. ICE provides three types of agreements: Jail Enforcement Officers, Warrant Officers, and Task Forces, which empower local law enforcement agencies to implement immigration enforcement and enhance the capabilities of federal agencies. The controversial task force model was reinstated by the Trump administration in 2025, after being phased out by the Obama administration in 2012.
Broader Investigations by the ACLU
Kozak’s office is one of only two law enforcement agencies in Wyoming—alongside Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office—that maintain all three agreements with ICE. Since October, when the sheriff began enforcing immigration laws under Section 287(g), his office has apprehended over 400 immigrants.
Following the lawsuit, the ACLU has initiated record requests directed at other Wyoming law enforcement agencies with 287(g) agreements, aiming to investigate the processes through which these agreements were established. ACLU Senior Attorney Andrew Malone stated during a virtual public forum that they are assessing whether these agencies may have engaged in similar legal missteps.
Malone revealed that depending on the findings, the ACLU might pursue additional legal actions. “If we obtain a favorable judgment and discover that other counties are reluctant to adhere to the judicially mandated processes, we will certainly contemplate filing further cases,” he noted.
