Riverton Police first department in Utah to partner with I.C.E.

RIVERTON, Utah (ABC4) — Riverton Police signed an agreement Friday to participate in a task force with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), making them the first department in the state to do so.

“Riverton has signed the 287(g) Task Force Memorandum of Agreement with I.C.E., the first in the state of Utah,” a statement issued from Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs and Riverton Police Chief Shane Taylor reads. “This will enhance coordination with our federal partners in the field and strengthen our ability to investigate, apprehend, and address crimes connected to unlawful presence in the United States.”

The agreement reportedly gives specially trained Riverton police officers the authority to carry out “certain limited federal immigration enforcement duties” in conjunction with I.C.E. agents.

Through this program, Riverton officers receive federal training and certification to “identify, process, and detain individuals who are in the country unlawfully,” the statement reads.

“This partnership acts as a force multiplier. It allows federal immigration authorities and our local law enforcement team to work side-by-side to locate and remove criminal offenders who threaten public safety,” Mayor Staggs and Chief Taylor wrote. “By putting federal resources to work here in Riverton, we can better protect our residents, uphold the rule of law, and keep our neighborhoods safe from criminal activity.”

The Riverton officials further commended the Trump administration for this program, stating that they’re now getting the backing needed to confront crime head-on and protect law-abiding residents.

“We encourage other local law enforcement agencies to join the 287(g) Task Force program to help bolster public safety around our state,” Mayor Staggs and Chief Taylor wrote. “With this agreement, and our other interagency task force cooperation agreements across the valley, we stand ready to protect our residents, uphold the rule of law, and defend the immigration processes that keep our nation strong and secure.”