Laramie County Sheriff Seeks Dismissal of Immigration Enforcement Lawsuit
Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak has urged a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that challenges three agreements his office established last year to assist the federal government in enforcing immigration laws.
Background of the Lawsuit Against the Sheriff’s Office
Last month, a coalition of churches, nonprofit advocacy groups, and barbershops, led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), filed suit against the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Kozak. The lawsuit contests their 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), seeking to invalidate these contracts. The agreements, named after specific sections of immigration law, permit local law enforcement agencies to carry out certain immigration enforcement activities under ICE’s oversight.
Accusations of Misconduct and Procedure Violations
The complaint alleges that Sheriff Kozak and his office violated required legal procedures and overstepped their authority in signing the agreements, leading to financial and other resource burdens on the plaintiffs.
Legal Defense Strategy
In response, Casper attorney Amy Iberlin, representing the sheriff, described the lawsuit as “fatally flawed.” She contends that the plaintiffs did not meet the notice requirements established by the Wyoming Government Claims Act and argues that they fundamentally lack standing to sue. The motion to dismiss claims that the plaintiffs failed to specify legally protected damages, instead articulating only general grievances insufficient for the court’s jurisdiction.
Judge’s Determination Pending
The judge will ultimately decide whether to grant the sheriff’s request for dismissal, which could have implications for how such agreements are treated in the future.
ICE Agreements and Their National Context
ICE has established three types of contracts: Jail Enforcement Officers, Warrant Officers, and Task Forces, allowing local and state agencies to engage in immigration enforcement, thereby extending the federal government’s reach. The task force model, considered the most contentious among these agreements, was reinstated by the Trump administration in 2025 after being phased out during the Obama administration in 2012.
Widespread Impact of Local Agreements
Sheriff Kozak’s office is one of only two law enforcement agencies in Wyoming, alongside the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, to hold all three ICE agreements. Since beginning to enforce Section 287(g) last October, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office has apprehended over 400 immigrants as part of these initiatives.
Continued Scrutiny by the ACLU
Following the filing of the lawsuit, the ACLU has submitted records requests to other Wyoming law enforcement agencies with 287(g) agreements, seeking information on the procedural integrity of their ICE contracts. ACLU Senior Attorney Andrew Malone indicated in a recent virtual public forum that they are investigating whether similar procedural oversights may exist in these contracts. Depending on their findings, further legal actions could be pursued against other counties that do not adhere to proper protocols.
