Wyoming residents from mixed-immigration-status families fear a Torrington Republican’s deportation and detainment bill will bring racial profiling and arrests to immigrant communities.
Language in Sen. Cheri Steinmetz’s bill that ties local law enforcement to federal authorities and makes it illegal to transfer or shelter undocumented immigrants would cause irreparable harm to residents in the country both legally or illegally, Latino residents of Cheyenne told the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.
Senate File 124, “Illegal immigration-identify, report, detain and deport” would punish anyone who “attempt(s) to transport or move in the state” someone they know is in the country illegally with five years in prison or a $5,000 fine.
Cheyenne resident Alexis Soto told senators that if Steinmetz’s bill passes, she worries teachers could go to jail for taking schoolchildren they know are undocumented on school trips. Like several people who spoke against the sweeping bill, Soto is a native-born U.S. citizen whose parents entered the country illegally, she said. Driving her undocumented family members somewhere could also land her in prison under the bill.
“Can we even go to church?” Soto asked senators, battling tears. “I just hope that you can see my side of things as a community member born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming.”
The committee voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the Senate floor.
It will face three votes there. Senators appeared on the verge of killing the legislation at the meeting, with two committee members saying the draft was too riddled with legal and practical problems to advance.
They settled, instead, for sweeping amendments that blunted some effects that particularly worried them — like a prohibition on providing public services to undocumented immigrants that Sen. Barry Crago, R-Buffalo, feared could block people from medical care.
Senators removed the prohibitions on public benefits for undocumented immigrants from the legislation entirely. They also struck, at Steinmetz’s urging, a provision requiring Wyoming law enforcement to interrogate every person they pull over about their immigration status. That section, and a requirement that sheriffs enter into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — allowing them to hold people in their jails for prolonged periods until federal agents can pick them up for deportation proceedings — worried Wyoming law enforcement chiefs.
Many sheriffs are already pursuing such agreements, but they do not want to be statutorily mandated to do so, in part because the federal government may not want to sign contracts with each of Wyoming’s 23 counties. Smaller sheriff’s departments also may be less interested in pursuing those arrangements, as they create workload and, opponents warn, can dramatically increase budgets.
Steinmetz said she had crafted her amendment, which was not made public before the committee hearing, together with law enforcement representatives. But even with the change, her bill met, at best, a tepid reception from the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police.
“I would hesitate to say we support it,” the group’s executive director, former Sheridan County Sheriff Allen Thompson, told the committee when asked if his group now backed the bill. “But this is heavily amended to where we can do everything that is asked with this bill.”
Worrying to members of the public, who packed a basement meeting room at the Wyoming Capitol to oppose the measure, was language in Steinmetz’s amendment that allows Wyoming peace officers to ask someone about their citizenship status if they have a “reasonable, articulable suspicion of a person’s illegal immigration status.”
Thompson said the new language echoed court rulings giving law enforcement legal support to “extend a stop” if they suspect criminal activity but don’t have probable cause of a crime.
Public commenters didn’t buy it.
“We’re giving sheriffs the opportunity to profile our families, our children,” said Maria Alvarado, who also said she was born to undocumented immigrants who came to Wyoming in the 1970s and now has two children of her own. “The idea that just because they’re a little bit browner they are subject to this harassment essentially is unnerving,” Alvarado said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wyoming has already challenged the bill’s constitutionality.
“This bill has nothing to do with making Wyoming a better place to live,” advocacy director Antonio Serrano said in a statement. “It has nothing to do with keeping Wyomingites safe. In fact, it actively harms Wyomingites and criminalizes people who interact with immigrants.”
The bill’s only support Tuesday came from lawmakers, with Sen. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne, speaking in favor of it. “When you’re not doing anything wrong in my eyes you should have no fear of the law,” Hutchings said. But other speakers pushed back on that assertion, saying senators did not understand the challenges of attaining legal residency status in the country.
Soto, the Cheyenne resident, said one of her loved ones waited six years for a work visa, risking deportation the whole time. If the new bill had been in force, he would have also endangered the freedom of the friends and family who helped him get by during those six years, she said.
Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, a committee member and one of Steimetz’s co-sponsors, said his wife was a naturalized citizen and he agreed the process “was hell.” But Kolb sought to wave off people’s fears of racial profiling.
“That’s inappropriate,” he said. “I don’t buy any of this profiling business. This is about people doing something that they shouldn’t be doing. People get pulled over and they get found out that they shouldn’t be here.”
The crowd greeted his assertion with loud groans and skeptical jeers.
The bill must now pass three votes on the Senate floor, where it can be further amended before it can be considered in the House.
Editor’s note: The comments in this story from Cheyenne resident Alexis Soto have been revised.
One crucial and deeply problematic aspect of the proposed Wyoming SF0124. Based on the bill’s text, a law enforcement officer could be seen as violating the law if they transport an undocumented immigrant, even in the course of their official duties.
Here’s the relevant part of the proposed bill:
“2) (a) It shall be unlawful for a person to:
(ii) Transport, move or attempt to transport or move in the state of Wyoming any alien knowing that the alien has come to, entered or remained in the United States in violation of law;
The Problem: The bill makes no exception for law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity. This creates several absurd and dangerous situations:
1. Arrests and Detention: If a Wyoming officer arrests an undocumented immigrant for any reason (even something unrelated to immigration, like a traffic violation), transporting that person to the jail or detention center would seemingly violate this law. The officer would be “transporting” an “alien” “knowing” they are in the U.S. unlawfully (because the arrest establishes that knowledge).
2. Emergency Situations: If an officer encounters an undocumented immigrant who needs medical assistance or is a victim of a crime, transporting them to a hospital or shelter could be considered a violation.
3. Federal Cooperation: Federal immigration authorities (ICE) often rely on state and local law enforcement for assistance in detaining and transporting individuals. This bill could effectively prohibit Wyoming officers from cooperating with ICE, even in cases where a federal warrant exists.
4. Witness/Victim Transport: If a witness or victim of a crime is an undocumented immigrant, this law would appear to prevent a police officer from legally transporting that person.
This Interpretation is Likely Correct because: The bill’s language is broad and unqualified. It says “It shall be unlawful for a person” to transport. It doesn’t say “a person, except law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity.”
I believe there are other significant problems. And in summary, Wyoming SF0124 faces significant constitutional hurdles, is likely preempted by federal law, and raises serious practical concerns. It’s highly improbable that such a law would survive a legal challenge.
So change/amend the bill to exclude law enforcement. Easy fix.
Ok, Senator Cheri Steinmetz has exposed some very worrisome facts. First off, the unFreedom Caucus members are unhinged and just a bit off mentally and have a severe lack of probity. In the very short time that the 2025 Legislature has convened, it’s obvious that they are only working for a select few (themselves) vs. representing the people of Wyoming. You better be pasty white skinned or a sellout (shout out to you, Rachel R/W) to not have this group and their arm banded thugs try to curtail your rights, take away your ability to vote and detain you. What is even more painful is that we, the people, put in these degenerates in a place of power. Thank you Senator Steinmetz for opening our eyes to this chicanery and believe me, we’ve got our eyes on you and your ilk and the garbabe you’re trying to pull in Cheyenne . 2026 may very well be the election year that the UnFreedom Hamas gets tossed on the curb
Sen. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne, speaking in favor of it. “When you’re not doing anything wrong in my eyes you should have no fear of the law,” That’s a pretty naive statement. Yes, agreed, you should have nothing to fear, but everyday there are reports of people being unlawfully detained, beaten or killed in what are questionable circumstances. I listen to a police scanner quite frequently, and I wonder why our LEO’s are doing racial profiling on traffic stops/game violations. To the best of my knowledge there is nothing on my drivers license that has my color or race. So why are they saying “white female wyoming” or ” Asian male Oregon” when transmitting info to dispatch?
Wow, what a 7+/- days Steinmetz has had. The only thing she’s accomplished is to show us who she really is. Not a good look and certainly not a somebody who should be legislating. If any brain cells were functioning, this would be a time to resign
Senator Steinmetz is a bigot. Senator Kolb, co-sponsor of this draconian bill, is an idiot if he thinks its passing wouldn’t lead to racial profiling. Law enforcement doesn’t need the added burden of deciding whether there is “a reasonable, articulable suspicion of a person’s immigration status”. How?
Tribal leaders in this state have suggested that their members carry ID, which is a terrible irony, considering who came here first.
I suggest all sane Wyoming citizens, should they get pulled over for a traffic check, declare that they’re undocumented and present their wrists for cuffing. That should jam up the works.
Go back to your ranch Senator Steinmetz and hoe your own beets.
One has to wonder what the Goshen County farmers and ranchers must think of Senator Steinmetz’s bill. After all, many of them have exploited undocumented Hispanic workers for over a century and paid them a pittance for their hard labor. JD Vance once called Donald Trump “America’s Hitler”. Steinmetz’s legislation isn’t any different than the tactics used by Adolf Hitler in the 1930’s to deport Jews from Germany and Poland, eventually resulting in the deaths of millions of innocent people. I wonder if JD Vance would consider Steimmetz to be “Wyoming’s Hitler”?
Bruce. Farmers/Ranchers can bring in LEGAL workers anytime they wish. They been bringing in workers with GREEN CARDS for decades. It not hard. But that means they pay higher wages. Which they don’t want to do.
Let’s ship Steinmetz out of the country. While we’re at it, let’s unload Bear and the rest of these menacing goofballs. Our state would be far better off without them. Oh, can you imagine a Dr. approving RFK?
Yes I can and his name is John Barrasso.
When a Bill with such tainted garbage is submitted, there should be no room for amendments. The whole toxic enchilada should be tossed. Steinmetz not only showed her true colors, she’s way over her head and quite frankly, shouldn’t be in Cheyenne. A disturbing quote from Sen. Lynn Hutchings “When you’re not doing anything wrong in my eyes you should have no fear of the law,” uhh, ya true, maybe unless the law enforcement is corrupt. Hey Hutchings, don’t you watch the news? The “Blue Line” has many times over proven to be as bad as the supposed criminals running around. A badge that supposedly promotes righteousness and honesty is just a pipe dream
Maybe all the Christian freedom caucus members could introduce a bill to put a chip in everyone’s forehead that they could scan . It could contain all that individuals information making Wyoming a safe place !
Excellent coverage on what was compelling and emotional testimony. One The gentleman representing Catholics offered compelling testimony about the attack this bill has on religious freedom pointing out that Christians are to practice caring and compassionate behavior. My church is a Mathew 25 church and supports Sanctuary status which the bill makes illegal. This bill is an alarming attack on civil and religious freedom. I do not buy Senator Steinmetz statement that it is all about illegal immigration .
WY’s daily reminder of who Steinmetz and team orange support are pardoned felons; they knowingly put them back into our community, including six convicted of sex crimes against children. “Theodore Middendorf was accused by Illinois prosecutors of “Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child.” Prosecutors said in a court filing that Middendorf “committed an act of sexual penetration.” Indiana state records indicate that Middendorf’s victim was 7 years old….. David Daniel of Mint Hill, N.C., is charged with “Production of Child Pornography” and “Possession of Child Pornography,” which allegedly “involved a prepubescent minor” and a child under 12 years old. While Steinmetz and the Freedom caucus giddily work to hurt innocent people who actively contribute to communities around WY, they stand fast by their own criminal tribe, including the 34x felon and rapist they call the leader of their party.
To paraphrase Wilhoit, The WY Fascists consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.
We have entered the time when the worst from our communities, and the nation’s criminals, are making WY law. How did it come to this? Deport the worker and provide safe harbor for the pedophiles.
Women had more kids with husband and built strong families. We would not need migrants to mow lawns/ clean motels/ especially farmers, ranchers having kids they would have their “employees”.
You would fit right in with the leg. That’s bullshit your kids grow up and leave . No one wants to work 16 hr days for free . I can not find any one to work the mediocre tasks if I do they wont last one day . So I pay the local cartel 18 to 20 $ an hr do do work no one else will do . And furthermore they are all lot better people to be around the the far right individuals in the Republican party.
Women are not your baby makers sir. They shouldn’t be forced to have more kids then they want just to run their husbands business. Also, those kids should have the right to choose where they work. If they don’t want to work on the farm they shouldn’t have to. Sounds like you want familial slavery. Mom forced to have kids, kids forced to work for dad, dad keeps making money and doesn’t pay wife and kids for time.
The only reason they are concerned is because they are harboring a fugitive. Aiding and abetting. Whatever you want to call it, someone broke the law (entering the country illegally) and now you are helping said criminal. It’s ALWAYS been against the law. I don’t understand why we need another law stating the same thing. Everyone so concerned about the US enforcing it’s laws should attempt to cross into Mexico, or for that matter just drive a little north to Canada, illegally. You’ll be immediately arrested and deported. You will NOT be given cash, credit cards, a place to live, a job, etc.
I had no problem getting into Canada or Mexico but getting back was a different issue