Responding to protesters' May 1 deadline, Teton County Sheriff says 48-hour ICE holds will continue

JACKSON — While Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr says he understands the concerns underpinning a petition signed by more than 540 people, he does not plan to direct the jail to stop holding inmates held for federal immigration authorities.

The petition was submitted to Carr in mid-April and signed by immigrant advocates and Jackson Mayor Arne Jorgensen. It urges Carr’s office to stop honoring immigration detainers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, without a judicial warrant. 

In essence, the detainers give ICE time to pick up detainees with possible immigration violations: 48 hours after they would otherwise be released from Teton County Jail. Critics argue the detainers are unconstitutional and raise concerns about fairness and trust.

Petitioners gave Carr a May 1 deadline to respond to their demand. The sheriff called the Jackson Hole Daily to issue that response. The policy, he said, will remain in place because of state law and public safety concerns.

“Our community has been put in a very hard spot,” Carr said.

The Teton County Jail previously only recognized ICE detainer requests signed by a judge. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., scrutinized that practice and accused Carr of “foiling” ICE efforts, causing a stir in December 2024. Carr changed the policy in March 2025 and now recognizes all detainer requests.

That same month, Gov. Mark Gordon signed a new state law that bans any Wyoming city, town or county from declaring itself a “sanctuary” from reporting illegal immigration to federal officials. The law became effective immediately.

“Whether the law is right or not, that’s the law of the land,” Carr said.

Republican state lawmakers pointed to Teton County while advancing the sanctuary city ban and other immigration enforcement bills during the 2025 legislative session. They have continued to do so.

Carr, however, said the Teton County Sheriff’s Office will not enter into a 287(g) agreement with the Department of Homeland Security. Those agreements essentially delegate some immigration authority to local law enforcement. A handful of other law enforcement agencies in Wyoming have signed versions of those agreements.

Carr said the Teton County Jail’s 48-hour hold policy reflects a difficult balance between legal obligations and community concerns. While he acknowledged that it causes fear and frustration, particularly among immigrant residents, he said the issue is shaped by forces beyond local control. He worries about “painting a target on the back of our community.”

“If a sheriff were to stand up to the state and the federal government, I have no doubt … we would feel the repercussions,” he said.

Cities have felt those repercussions nearby. 

In Montana, the Helena City Commission voted to limit police cooperation with ICE. In response, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte announced an investigation of the city, sparking debate in the community about the best way forward. Ultimately, the commission backed down and rescinded its earlier policy.

At an ICE protest in March, some community members said they would welcome a more direct challenge to federal enforcement. Others have warned it is only a matter of time before immigration enforcement activity increases in Jackson.

“It’s not a question of if — it’s a question of when,” Emily Gomez, executive director of the Wyoming Immigrant Advocacy Project, said on April 1.

Carr said Wyoming’s small size does not insulate it from political pressure.

Sen. John Barrasso is the second most powerful Republican in the Senate, and Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Hageman also wield influence. All three have been advocates for strong immigration enforcement.

“We live in a small state with small representation, but very powerful representation,” Carr said.

In Teton County, 48-hour immigration holds have often been tied to nonviolent offenses. Individuals without valid driver’s licenses as well as those cited for trespassing or probation violations have been transferred to ICE custody, according to the sheriff’s inmate logs.

“I don’t have the authority to separate the violent crimes,” Carr said. “Our policy is that we call on every foreign national and we are not allowed to differentiate the ones with lesser offenses.”

Carr said his focus remains on public safety, including enforcement of state laws that prevent people from driving without a license. The issue has “plagued” the community for years, Carr said, pointing to cases where unlicensed drivers have caused crashes and injuries. Repeat violations can lead to arrests, he said, because of the risk those people pose to others on the road.

Some people with valid driver’s licenses have also been placed on immigration holds. The Wyoming Legislature passed House Bill 116 last year, which voids out-of-state driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants driving in Wyoming, even if the cards were legally issued elsewhere.

As soon as drivers with this kind of license enter the state, law enforcement can charge them with a misdemeanor for driving without a license and place them on a 48-hour ICE hold in a county jail. A person convicted of the crime can face a fine of up to $750, six months imprisonment, or both.

This story was published on May 1, 2026.