{"id":2673761,"date":"2026-10-01T09:16:56","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T13:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaigna-sheriffs-race-in-wyoming-is-the-canary-in-the-coal-mine-over-the-enforcement-of-immigration-laws\/"},"modified":"2026-10-01T09:26:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T13:26:02","slug":"utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaigna-sheriffs-race-in-wyoming-is-the-canary-in-the-coal-mine-over-the-enforcement-of-immigration-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaigna-sheriffs-race-in-wyoming-is-the-canary-in-the-coal-mine-over-the-enforcement-of-immigration-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheriff&#8217;s Race In WY Is Bellwether On Immigration Enforcement"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Futm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaigna-sheriffs-race-in-wyoming-is-the-canary-in-the-coal-mine-over-the-enforcement-of-immigration-laws%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2673761&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In Teton County, Wyoming, where over 80% of voters are registered as Republicans, immigration enforcement has become a key issue in the sheriff race. A local commissioner compared ICE agents\u2019 presence to the Jim Crow South,and an self-reliant candidate running for sheriff has campaigned on keeping ICE out of the county. Wyoming law bans sanctuary cities and requires local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including 48-hour holds for ICE. though, county officials have shown reluctance to actively support immigration enforcement, with some gestures stopping short of direct interference. Recent ICE actions in the county, including serving warrants, have prompted public statements from Sheriff Matt Carr, a Democrat, who emphasized that law enforcement is not assisting with federal immigration efforts. His Republican opponent, Deputy Eric Snow, argues that immigration laws should be enforced and describes responding to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/all-male-migrant-center-to-open-up-just-feet-away-from-school-no-one-told-us\/\" title=\"All-Male Migrant Center to Open Up \u2018Just Feet Away\u2019 from School: \u2018No One Told Us\u2019\">crimes involving illegal immigrants<\/a>, highlighting the community&#8217;s mixed sentiments. Snow favors limited cooperation with ICE but <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >opposes formal agreements granting deputies federal enforcement powers<\/a>. The campaign reflects broader tensions in wyoming, a conservative state experiencing shifts in political dynamics, with Snow asserting that Wyoming&#8217;s evolving stance signals a potential national change in conservatism.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>In a state where <a href=\"https:\/\/sos.wyo.gov\/Elections\/Docs\/VRStats\/2026\/26SepVR_Stats.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nearly 80 percent<\/a> of voters are registered as Republicans, the enforcement of immigration laws has become a central controversy over the choice of a county sheriff. The argument is happening in the blue island of Teton County, Wyoming, where a county commissioner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jhnewsandguide.com\/news\/town_county\/county-commission-passes-resolution-in-support-of-immigrants-town-council-gets-same-request\/article_b8ddd32b-ada9-4178-bca7-b013ea20dee4.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said this week<\/a> that the local presence of ICE agents reminds him of his childhood \u201cin the Jim Crow South.\u201d Among the people running for sheriff there is an <a href=\"https:\/\/buckrail.com\/independent-sheriff-candidate-chris-glenn-runs-on-activist-platform\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">independent candidate<\/a> who volunteers as an anti-ICE activist, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1684418959492692\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">promising<\/a> to keep ICE out of the county if he wins the election.<\/p>\n<p>A Wyoming law <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyomingnews.com\/news\/local_news\/governors-signature-makes-wyoming-sanctuary-city-ban-effective-immediately\/article_11a07517-3215-4ac5-bd55-32cbf9a36f57.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">passed last year<\/a> bans sanctuary jurisdictions and forbids local officials from refusing to cooperate with federal immigration officials, and Teton County does the minimum: It honors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gillettenewsrecord.com\/news\/wyoming\/article_b074a060-d09f-4ae2-8b6b-50e522aa8430.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">48-hour jail hold requests<\/a> from ICE, keeping illegal immigrants arrested for other crimes in custody so federal law enforcement can pick them up.<\/p>\n<p>But county officials have demonstrated their lack of enthusiasm for immigration enforcement with gestures that stop short of direct interference, as when ICE agents from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ice.gov\/node\/62133\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Casper office<\/a> visited the county last year to serve arrest warrants. With ICE personnel actively making arrests, Sheriff Matt Carr called the local newspaper and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jhnewsandguide.com\/news\/cops_courts\/local\/ice-attempting-to-execute-17-immigration-warrants-in-teton-county\/article_e84bc210-e57c-11ef-8702-3fb8bb02523e.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told them<\/a> ICE was in town, passing on the notice he\u2019d received from ICE as a courtesy between law enforcement agencies:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Immigration enforcement officials are in Jackson today, Friday, attempting to execute 17 warrants on specific people in Teton County.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s according to Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr, who spoke with the News&#038;Guide before noon Friday. At that time, Carr said that\u00a0U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency tasked with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-attorney-general-mark-brnovich-facebook-admits-to-aiding-human-smuggling\/\" title=\"Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich: Facebook Admits to Aiding Human Smuggling\">enforcing federal immigration law<\/a>, is still in the community. Neither the sheriff\u2019s office nor the Jackson Police Department are assisting with the federal mission.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Carr, a Democrat, is <a href=\"https:\/\/carrforsheriff.com\/issues.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">running for re-election<\/a>. His Republican opponent in the November general election is a deputy in the same department, <a href=\"https:\/\/sheriffsnow.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eric Snow<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Why I&apos;m Running for Sheriff of Teton County\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N7bIAO7jnM4?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>In a conversation with The Federalist this week, Snow described his own experience responding to crimes committed by illegal immigrants, including domestic violence calls and serious traffic accidents with injuries caused by drivers who don\u2019t have a license. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re not out there looking for illegal immigrants,\u201d he says, but he\u2019s seen people taken to the hospital because they were hurt by criminals who shouldn\u2019t have been in the country. There\u2019s considerable sentiment in Teton County against the enforcement of immigration laws, Snow told The Federalist, but \u201cif the public could see that, they might have a different opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Carr\u2019s warning call to the local newspaper is a clear point of divergence between the current sheriff and the deputy who\u2019s running to replace him. \u201cI would not tip off the paper if ICE or any other law enforcement agency was in town,\u201d Snow says.<\/p>\n<p>Snow regards the high-profile independent campaign of anti-ICE activist Chris Glenn as a clear sign of public sentiment, but he also sees the limits of an argument that mostly shows up in Jackson. In the rural portion of the county, he says, there are fewer newcomers, and the old school Teton County residents \u201cvery much support ICE.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The argument over ICE isn\u2019t the whole campaign. Snow also opposes the use of Flock cameras in the county, and he wants the sheriff\u2019s department to take a more active role alongside the Wyoming Highway Patrol in preventing accidents through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buffalobulletin.com\/news\/dump-truck-driver-pleads-not-guilty-in-fatal-teton-pass-crash\/article_5319d9d2-78d0-4390-be6b-8e263343f5e0.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">frequently dangerous<\/a> Teton Pass. But the enforcement of immigration laws is the marquee topic in the race.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are a law enforcement organization,\u201d Snow says, and the sheriff should enforce the law. If ICE tells local law enforcement that there are people in the county illegally who may be a danger to the community, the sheriff should help. \u201cI think there\u2019s an opportunity to work with ICE when there are high-value targets in the community,\u201d he says, in forms of cooperation that stop short of doing ICE\u2019s work for them.<\/p>\n<p>As sheriff, Snow says, he wouldn\u2019t sign a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ice.gov\/287g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">287(g) agreement<\/a> with ICE on the \u201ctask force model,\u201d giving local deputies directly delegated federal authority to enforce immigration laws. But he would sign a more limited agreement that would improve cooperation with ICE over illegal immigrants arrested for other crimes and held in the county jail.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, Snow calls attention to the fact that the enforcement of immigration laws is drawing aggressive opposition in a deep red state. The conservative Freedom Caucus in the state legislature also faced what one Wyoming news source <a href=\"https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2026\/08\/19\/near-total-massacre-for-freedom-caucus-in-wyoming-primary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">called<\/a> a \u201cnear-total massacre\u201d in the Republican primaries this year. While the cause of that wipeout is <a href=\"https:\/\/wyofile.com\/what-cost-the-wyoming-freedom-caucus-its-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">debated<\/a>, the loss is still a sign that a deeply conservative state is becoming less conservative.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWyoming is sort of the canary in the coal mine for conservatism in the U.S.,\u201d Snow argues. \u201cIt should be a wake-up call for the rest of the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Chris Bray is a senior correspondent at The Federalist and a former infantry sergeant in the U.S. Army. He has a history PhD from the University of California Los Angeles, not that it did him any good. He also posts on Substack, at &#8220;Tell Me How This Ends,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/chrisbray.substack.com\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wyoming sheriff race highlights immigration law tensions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2086,"featured_media":2673762,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/snow-for-sheriff-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[49347,86544,3630],"class_list":["post-2673761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-immigration-enforcement","tag-sheriffs-race","tag-wyoming"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/snow-for-sheriff-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2673761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2086"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2673761"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2673761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2673777,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2673761\/revisions\/2673777"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2673762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2673761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2673761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2673761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}