Governor Mark Gordon has approved the activation of Wyoming National Guard personnel to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in order to “enable ICE agents to focus more directly on law enforcement operations,” the Governor’s office announced yesterday, August 13.
The release states that within the next 30 days, up to 15 Wyoming National Guard members will be assigned to support ICE over the coming months to provide “administrative, logistics and transportation support,” and that Guard personnel will “not be directing enforcement operations and will remain under the Governor’s command and control while working alongside ICE.”
“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,” Governor Gordon stated in the release. “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.”
The news comes after the Governor’s July announcement that the Wyoming Highway Patrol entered into an agreement to assist with ICE operations as well.
The federal authorization for the mission came from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Governor’s office informed, who 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.
“The Wyoming National Guard is ready and capable to support our partners when called upon,” said Maj. Gen. Greg Porter, Wyoming’s Adjutant General, said in the release. “Our Soldiers and Airmen are trained to adapt quickly and seamlessly support other state and federal agencies to accomplish their mission.”
The release concludes with the following:
Domestically, the Wyoming National Guard routinely aids local, state, and federal partners, including medical evacuation, flood and fire response efforts, search and rescue, counter-drug operations, security, and other valuable missions. This support to ICE continues our tradition of interagency cooperation in service to our state and others as well as the nation.