• Notes increase in cases involving illegals

Lincoln County Sheriff, Shane Johnson, spoke about increased interest on the issue of illegal immigration in his most recent interview with SVI. He stated that the LCSO and other law enforcement agencies also keep an eye on bills that come up during the Wyoming legislative process.

RELATED: RADIO INTERVIEW WITH LC SHERIFF SHANE JOHNSON –

“We are actually meeting with [Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police](WASCOP) next week and speaking with the legislature about things that involve law enforcement,” he said. “Certainly every year there are bills that we have an interest in.”

Johnson also commented on the political discussion involving illegal immigrants, in particular neighboring Teton County which has drawn attention at both the state and national level. He said that the federal focus is not one that really changes their own.

“I recently had some back and forth texts about immigration with Senator Dockstader,” he said. “And the laws that they are working on now are talking about stuff that we do already. One would manage sheriffs signing with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). I’m not in favor of that. We already work with ICE. I don’t necessarily like being told by other elected officials that you have to sign agreements with the federal government, but I appreciate the attitude of where it’s coming from.”

Johnson said the LCSO has seen an increase in cases involving illegal immigration, but it is still at small numbers.

“We have certainly seen an increase in undocumented people here,” he added. “You go from having a couple every six months to having ten. It’s not an overwhelming amount. We work with ICE and contact them and notify them that we have them in custody.”

Johnson also mentioned that he believes those in the country and breaking laws should be deported.

“My feeling has always been the individuals who bring attention to themselves by not following the law, they need to go,” he stated. “They are driving drunk or committing crimes or domestic crimes, they need to be deported. We are not doing wholesale raids on anyone. But we are going to focus on these who draw attention to themselves.”