Governor Gordon Grants Wyoming National Guard Aid for ICE Operations
The decision by Governor Mark Gordon to mobilize up to 1,700 National Guard members across 20 states, including Wyoming, for support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is causing fear and concern within local communities.
According to the ACLU of Wyoming, the use of military forces for domestic immigration enforcement blurs the line between the military and civilian law enforcement, raising serious concerns about potential abuses of power. The ACLU strongly opposes this deployment, citing the fear and tension it creates among immigrant communities as being out of sync with the actual needs and data on the ground.
Recent reports have shown that most of the people detained by ICE in Wyoming over the last year do not have any criminal record. This has led the ACLU to question Governor Gordon's assertions about the deployment enhancing public safety.
The Guard personnel will not be directing enforcement operations and will remain under Governor Gordon's command and control while working alongside ICE. Up to 15 Wyoming National Guard members will provide administrative, logistical, and transportation support to ICE. The federal authorization for the mission came from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The mobilization of the National Guard is causing disruptions in local communities. Families are going without groceries due to the mobilization of the National Guard, and outdoor concerts are being cancelled. The deployment is also causing valuable employees to be too terrified to show up to work.
The ACLU of Wyoming's Executive Director, Libby Skarin, has expressed that this decision is hard to believe, especially given the lack of criminal records among those detained by ICE in Wyoming. She believes the Governor's decision is a shameful one.
The oath Governor Gordon swore was to represent the interests of all Wyomingites, including immigrants. The ACLU's opposition stems from concerns about the inappropriate use of military personnel in domestic law enforcement roles, which they believe could lead to unethical practices and harm to vulnerable populations.
[1] Source: ACLU of Wyoming press release, [date] [5] Source: Wyoming Department of Corrections data, [date]
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