Federal Government Backs Laramie County Sheriff’s Immigration Operations Amid Lawsuit
On Monday, the federal government expressed its support for the Laramie County Sheriff’s Department’s immigration enforcement activities as a judge deliberates on the potential dismissal of a lawsuit that challenges the department’s Section 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In a statement of interest signed by Wyoming U.S. Attorney Darrin Smith, the federal government noted its substantial authority over immigration matters, while acknowledging the complexities involved in enforcing immigration laws.
The documents submitted in Laramie County District Court earlier this month highlight that the federal government “regularly” collaborates with state and local authorities to navigate the challenges of immigration enforcement. This extensive cooperation is crucial for the federal government to identify and remove “hundreds of thousands of individuals who violate immigration and other laws annually.”
The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office’s collaboration with federal immigration enforcement is stated to serve vital federal interests that could be undermined if the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) lawsuit prevails.
Between October 2020 and January 2024, ICE reported more than 2,700 arrests of “convicted felons” within Denver’s jurisdiction, which includes Laramie County. Notably, the majority of these arrests under the Biden administration contrasted with a surge in immigration arrests during the Trump administration. Current ICE data indicates that most arrests in Colorado and Wyoming from January 20, 2025, to June 26, 2025, involved individuals without prior convictions.
In May, the Cheyenne Barber Shop, represented by the Cheyenne Church—a nonprofit advocacy organization—and the ACLU, filed a lawsuit against the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Brian Kozak due to the 287(g) agreement with ICE.
The lawsuit alleges that Kozak and his office have violated necessary legal procedures and exceeded their authority when signing the agreement. Consequently, it claims that the plaintiffs have incurred financial and other resource burdens.
The plaintiffs are seeking to have the 287(g) agreement invalidated. This agreement allows local and state law enforcement officers to engage in some immigration enforcement activities under ICE’s supervision.
Kozak’s attorney, Amy Iberlin, has requested the court to dismiss the lawsuit, contending that the plaintiffs did not meet notification requirements under the Wyoming Government Claims Act and that the lawsuit is fundamentally flawed. Iberlin further argued that the plaintiffs “lack standing” and could not demonstrate specific, legally protected harm justifying legal action.
During the court proceedings on Monday, Iberlin asserted that the plaintiffs are alleging “self-inflicted harm” resulting from their own decisions to allocate resources differently, asserting that these harms were not inflicted by the sheriff or his office.
Laramie County District Judge Robin S. Cooley questioned the causal connection between the 287(g) agreement and the alleged injuries, suggesting that without the agreement, federal agents could pursue immigration enforcement independently in the community.
Moreover, ACLU Chief Attorney Andrew Malone described the 287(g) program as a “military power amplifier,” arguing that ICE lacks the resources for constant community presence compared to sheriff’s deputies. He drew attention to the case of a plaintiff’s former employee, Carlos Montez, who was stopped by a sheriff’s deputy for a minor traffic violation before being questioned about his immigration status, highlighting the differences in authority between local law enforcement and ICE.
Judge Cooley is currently weighing the request to dismiss the case but did not reach a decision during Monday’s hearing. ACLU of Wyoming spokesperson Gianna Farley indicated that if the lawsuit were dismissed based on claims under the Wyoming Government Claims Act, the ACLU would likely pursue all necessary legal channels to refile the case.
