A local newspaper announced an immigration arrest operation while it was ongoing Friday in Jackson Hole using information from a local sheriff, prompting some to criticize both entities over safety and security concerns.
The Jackson Hole News & Guide reported Friday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials were active in the area that day, trying to execute 17 warrants on specific people in Teton County.
Spanish-language instructions on how to read the story in Spanish preceded the body of the online story.
The news about ICE was “according to Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr, who spoke with the News&Guide before noon Friday,” the outlet wrote, adding that Carr said ICE was still in the community at that time, but that he did not want to assist or impede it.
Though the story leads with Carr as its primary source, the sheriff told Cowboy State Daily on Monday that the Guide called him, and he merely confirmed to the outlet what others had told its reporters about the operation, which was becoming visible in the community.
Carr said he also wanted to give community members clarity about the “targeted” nature of the operation.
“I just confirmed (the information),” said Carr, adding that he didn’t seek to endanger federal agents by exposing their operation. “I fully support the mission of ICE to remove criminals out of our community.”
But he acknowledged that rumors about the operation can stir fears in Jackson.
“My goal was just to let the public know, ‘Yes, they’re here but they’re here for targeted individuals and it was not any sort of widespread roundup,” said Carr.
The sheriff confirmed that he was the person who told the Guide that ICE was executing 17 warrants, but he said he told the paper that information was “unconfirmed.”
Hellbound and Down 