By Jimmy Orr, Cowboy State Daily
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has made it clear that any attempt by the federal government to move illegal immigrants to Wyoming will not be allowed.
“I want to state clearly and unequivocally that the State of Wyoming will not participate in relocation or housing efforts of illegal immigrants or unaccompanied minors, and I have made our position clear to Federal officials,” Gordon tweeted Friday.
The federal government is dealing with a surge of unaccompanied minors entering the U.S. from its border with Mexico. More than 22,000 migrant children are currently by the government in what the Associated Press has called “substandard facilities.”
Gordon joined other governors in neighboring states who have issued similar declarations.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem received national attention for her tweet which one immigration advocacy group called “heartless”.
“South Dakota won’t be taking any illegal immigrants that the Biden Administration wants to relocate. My message to illegal immigrants… call me when you’re an American,” Noem said.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts on Tuesday declined a federal request to house unaccompanied migrant children, stating that resources should be used instead for Nebraskans.
“Nebraska is declining their request because we are reserving our resources for serving our kids. I do not want our kids harmed as the result of President Biden’s bad policies,” he said.
Gordon said he was unaware of any federal immigration plans that include Wyoming but would “continue to actively monitor the situation and will respond forcefully as needed.”
The chairman of the Wyoming Democratic Party said he believed Gordon’s message was political in nature and made in effort to appear more conservative than he really is.
“This was motivated by his fear of being primaried by the right-wing of his party in 2022,” Joe Barbuto said. “He saw this as an opportunity to jump on a bandwagon that might build him a little conservative cred and give him a couple of lines to use in campaign ads and the debates he’ll face during the next election.”
