Sheriff: Lincoln County already works with ICE

AFTON (WNE) — Most of the bills being considered by the Wyoming Legislature wouldn’t change the way the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office already deals with illegal immigrants and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Sheriff Shane Johnson.

“The laws that they are working on now are talking about stuff that we do already. One would manage sheriffs signing with ICE. I’m not in favor of that,” he said in a recent interview with the Star Valley Independent. “We already work with ICE. I don’t necessarily like being told by other elected officials that you have to sign agreements with the federal government, but I appreciate the attitude of where it’s coming from.”

Johnson said the LCSO has seen an increase in cases involving illegal immigration, but it is still at small numbers.

“We have certainly seen an increase in undocumented people here,” he added. “You go from having a couple every six months to having ten. It’s not an overwhelming amount. We work with ICE and contact them and notify them that we have them in custody.”

Johnson also mentioned that he believes those in the country and breaking laws should be deported.

“My feeling has always been the individuals who bring attention to themselves by not following the law, they need to go,” he stated. “They are driving drunk or committing crimes or domestic crimes, they need to be deported. We are not doing wholesale raids on anyone. But we are going to focus on those who draw attention to themselves.”

This story was published on February 12, 2025.