Editor’s Note, Aug. 14, 2025: This story has been updated to include more context about agreements between state agencies and ICE, and comment from the ACLU of Wyoming.
Gov. Mark Gordon announced on Aug. 13 he’s activating up to 15 members of the Wyoming National Guard to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) boosted efforts to enforce federal immigration laws.
In a press release, the governor’s office said the guard members will provide “administrative, logistics and transportation support to ICE” over the coming months. The state has over 3,000 National Guard members, according to the governor’s office.
“Guard personnel will not be directing enforcement operations and will remain under the Governor’s command and control while working alongside ICE. The Guard mission is expected to begin within 30 days,” the release said.
They will not have access to ICE databases or the training required to make arrests, according to a spokesperson for the governor’s office.
A spokesperson for the Wyoming National Guard told Jackson Hole Community Radio participation will be voluntary, and personnel will be selected from those who volunteer. The Wyoming National Guard will identify qualified volunteers and coordinate with ICE on final selections. The mission will be federally funded.
The move comes after U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth notified the National Guard Bureau that up to 1,700 Guard members across 20 states could be activated for ICE support under Title 32, Section 502(f) of the U.S. Code.
Gordon had already confirmed the partnership earlier this month to several news outlets while waiting to finalize the plan. It builds on his signing of an agreement between ICE and the Wyoming Highway Patrol in July. That agreement under ICE’s 287(g) program outlines special training that allows highway patrol to access ICE databases, execute warrants and the ability to “enforce limited immigration authority with ICE oversight” during traffic stops.
“When asked by our nation, Wyoming responds. Our participation is about putting our resources where they can be of greatest service to the national priority of securing our borders and staunching illegal immigration,” Gordon said in a statement. “By handling essential support work, the Wyoming National Guard enables ICE agents to focus on public safety and national security. Our Guard is our Sword and Shield. Members have always answered the call, and I know they will perform this mission in accordance with their oath and with the professionalism they are known for.”
Wyoming ACLU Executive Director Libby Skarin pushed back, urging the governor to remember immigrants in his oath to represent the interests of all Wyomingites. Non-citizen immigrants make up about 2% of the state’s population, according to KFF.
The Wyoming chapter believes the governor’s use of the guard strikes unnecessary fear and could be an abuse of power.
“Deploying the Wyoming National Guard blurs the line between the military and civilian law enforcement and raises serious concerns about potential abuses of power,” Skarin said in a statement.
Recent reporting by WyoFile found the vast majority of immigrants arrested in Wyoming this year do not have criminal records.
“Gov. Gordon’s assertions that this authorization is in pursuit of public safety strains credulity and is at odds with what’s happening on the ground and what data shows,” Skarin added. “In addition, the fear among immigrants and their loved ones across Wyoming is palpable. We’ve seen this fear lead to empty outdoor concerts, families going without groceries and valuable employees being too terrified to show up to work. Heightening this fear by mobilizing the National Guard will continue to drain resources and contribute to even more devastation in our communities.”
This marks the first time the Wyoming National Guard has supported immigration operations within the state, according to Wyoming National Guard spokesperson Joseph Coslett. More than two decades ago, Coslett said soldiers from the 133rd Engineer Company contributed to construction projects at the southern border.
Gordon also deployed state law enforcement officers to Texas in 2024 and 2023, in a response to a request for assistance from Gov. Greg Abbott to provide “law enforcement and emergency assistance in support of the Texas Department of Safety.”
