Freedom Caucus guns for Teton County and its immigration policies

JACKSON — As valley leaders discussed priorities for the Wyoming Legislature’s general session that starts Tuesday, Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr warned the delegation about “a lot of really scary bills that are being proposed right now.”

One bill that has been filed aims to punish towns and counties seen as giving sanctuary to undocumented immigrants.

Freshman Rep. Joel Guggenmos, a Freedom Caucus member from Riverton who won 55% of the vote in his Republican primary race in August, filed the bill. Consequences could include slashing a county or town’s state and federal funding. Local officials and employees also could be charged with a felony punishable by “not less than five years and not more than 10 years” in prison, up to a $20,000 fine, or both.

The hard-right Freedom Caucus guaranteed its dominance in the August primaries and solidified its majority in November. Now Teton County lawmakers expect to play more “defense” as a blue county with a large Latino population.

Other immigration-related bills target undocumented immigrants outright, seeking to invalidate driver’s licenses issued by other states. Even documented immigrants might have to get a specific label and color for their driver’s licenses if they apply at the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

“This is one way for Wyoming law enforcement to partner with President Trump’s stated goal to enforce federal immigration law — which is NOT taking place currently in Teton County,” said Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, the newly elected chair of the Freedom Caucus, in a statement about the license invalidation bill. “We are hopeful that this bill will allow law enforcement around the state to assist the Teton County Sheriff in tracking down the 103 lawbreakers he released into society.”

The Freedom Caucus chair was referring to a dust-up that began in November 2024 when Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman singled out the Teton County Sheriff’s Office for its detainment policies for non citizens. Carr refuses to hold released undocumented immigrants an extra 48 hours for Immigration and Customs Enforcement if a request hasn’t been signed by a judge.

Since February 2023, Teton County has not honored 103 out of 118 detainers, according to ICE. Some have criticized this practice as one of a “sanctuary” community. But civil liberties advocates counter that the alternative illegally detains people after their lawful release.

“ICE’s use of detainers to imprison people without due process and, in many cases, without any charges pending or probable cause of any violation has raised serious constitutional concerns. Local law enforcement agencies run the risk of litigation and damages liability when they honor ICE detainer requests,” the American Civil Liberties Union states on its website.

During the Jan. 8 meeting with constituents and fellow public officials, Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, voiced support for Carr.

“I do appreciate you trying to uphold the Fourth Amendment,” Gierau told Carr.

Gierau was one of five legislators from Teton County who met with community leaders during a six-hour session at the Teton County Administration Building. Lawmakers were wary about what could be accomplished in the next two months with the anti-establishment Wyoming Freedom Caucus in power.

As Carr voiced fears at the meeting dedicated to priority-setting before the start of the legislative session, he wore an Airpod linked up with a different legislative planning meeting simultaneously being held by the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police. The peace officers listened to what bills were either already filed or coming down the pipeline, like abolishing gun-free zones in public spaces.

When it comes to immigration, the Freedom Caucus is trying to cut out the judicial system and “the way that our separation of powers is supposed to be structured,” Carr said. But Carr added that he appreciated the legal opinion supporting him from the county attorney.

“The ones that we’re going to be discussing in the next few minutes are very much targeted at Teton County and my practices,” Carr said, before rushing out of the Jan. 8 meeting with his laptop. “And how we run our jail facility.”

Carr isn’t the only one preparing for a fight.

County Commissioner Luther Propst told the delegation during the county commission’s priority presentation that he was watching the “brouhaha” over the detention policies of the Sheriff’s Office.

Many local officials said their greatest concern with the Freedom Caucus taking power and the upcoming legislative session was whether local control in any area of Wyoming life would remain after March. Other issues that came up were school funding, mental health resources, the future of the state lodging tax, more property tax cuts and housing.

“The main thing I would just reiterate is that we want to be good allies,” Propst said, referring to more than just immigration. “We want to help you guys do what you can to help us.”