Laramie County Sheriff, 25 Deputies, Sworn In By ICE

Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak and 25 sheriff's deputies have been sworn in by ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and authorized to enforce immigration law.

That's according to a new release from the sheriff's office.

Sheriff: Public Safety Remains Top Priority

But according to the release, immigration enforcement will not take priority over regular law enforcement duties: "To be clear our mission is public safety; the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) will fulfill its mission of public safety by identifying criminal aliens as an extension of their normal duties.  In other words, LCSO will not proactively engage in immigration enforcement.  However, if deputies encounter undocumented aliens during regular criminal enforcement, they may detain them for removal proceedings.  Deputies may inquire about immigration status only after a lawful stop, detention, or arrest based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.  Immigration enforcement will never supersede nor divert resources from core public safety duties,\."

The release also says department policy prohibits immigration sweeps, and also does not allow deputies to enter private property just to catch illegal immigrants. But deputies are allowed to check on immigration status if they are already in contact with someone as part of their normal duties.

The release also quotes Sheriff Kozak as saying catching drug and human traffickers on the interstates that go through the county is a priority. “Let me break it down for you, if you are engaged in human trafficking in Laramie County, you are going to jail”.  The Sheriff said he wants to place a priority on rescuing sex trafficking victims.  The 287(g) certification allows our taskforce deputies to help trafficking victims to obtain a T-Visa.  Deputies may also help domestic violence victims to obtain a U-Visa.  These visas ensure the victims remain in the United States so they can testify against the criminal aliens.  

The Sheriff says undocumented and unlicensed truck drivers are also a problem. The release says there are an estimated 130,000 truck drivers who are undocumented and do not have commercial drivers licenses.

Sheriff Kozak said, “Let me be candid, unsafe, unlicensed and undocumented truckers, in this county will go to jail”.