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Why It Matters
The outcome of this Wyoming case could determine whether local sheriffs across the state can continue cooperative immigration enforcement arrangements with federal authorities — and whether advocacy groups have legal standing to challenge those agreements in court.
What Happened
Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak asked a judge Wednesday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union challenging his office’s agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The ACLU filed suit last month on behalf of a church, a nonprofit advocacy group, and a barbershop, seeking to void the agreements entirely.
The plaintiffs allege that Kozak and his office violated legally required procedures and exceeded their legal authority when entering into the contracts. They also claim to have suffered financial burdens and other resource impacts as a result of the agreements.
The sheriff’s defense, led by Casper attorney Amy Iberlin, argues the plaintiffs failed to follow notice requirements under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act and that they lack standing to bring the case before a judge. Iberlin stated in filings that the plaintiffs “have failed to allege a concrete, particularized, and legally protected injury, asserting instead generalized grievances that are insufficient to invoke the judicial power of this Court.”
By the Numbers
- 400+ immigration arrests made by Laramie County deputies under 287(g) authority since October
- 3 types of ICE enforcement agreements: Jail Enforcement, Warrant Service Officer, and Task Force
- 2 Wyoming law enforcement agencies holding all three ICE contracts — Laramie County and Sweetwater County sheriff’s offices
- 2025 — the year the Trump administration revived the Task Force model, which the Obama administration had discontinued in 2012
Zoom Out
The 287(g) program — named for a section of federal immigration law — allows state and local officers to carry out immigration enforcement functions under ICE oversight. The Trump administration’s decision to restore the Task Force model in 2025 significantly expanded the scope of local participation in federal immigration operations nationwide.
Laramie County stands out as one of the most active participants in Wyoming, holding all three available ICE contract types alongside Sweetwater County. The volume of arrests — more than 400 since October — reflects how extensively the agreements have been put to use.
Challenges to 287(g) agreements are emerging in multiple states as advocacy groups push back against expanded local immigration enforcement. This Wyoming lawsuit is among the more notable cases because it targets the procedural basis of the agreements themselves, not just their implementation.
What’s Next
A judge will now decide whether to grant the defendants’ motion to dismiss. If the court rules that the plaintiffs lack standing or failed to meet the notice requirements under Wyoming law, the case could be thrown out before reaching the substantive question of whether the 287(g) agreements were lawfully entered. If the motion is denied, the lawsuit will proceed to a fuller legal review of the agreements.
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