Gallatin County Attorney Takes ICE Dispute to Supreme Court Instead of Complying with AG Knudsen
Audrey Cromwell files petition seeking judicial clarification rather than directing her office to share confidential criminal justice information with federal ICE agents
Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell announced today that she has filed a petition with the Montana Supreme Court asking the justices to resolve her ongoing standoff with Attorney General Austin Knudsen over sharing Confidential Criminal Justice Information (CCJI) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In the filing, Cromwell claims she has “no policy to rescind” and accuses the Attorney General of issuing “theatrical directives” instead of providing a formal legal opinion. She argues that releasing the information could expose the county to liability and violate Montanans’ constitutional right to privacy.
Gallatin County Republicans continue to believe this is the wrong approach.
Public safety should not be delayed by legal maneuvering or endless court proceedings. When local officials refuse to fully cooperate with federal law enforcement on criminal justice matters, they put the safety of every resident in Gallatin County at risk. Montana is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, and our elected officials should not be acting like one.
This latest move by Cromwell — filing suit instead of simply directing her office to comply with the Attorney General’s reasonable request — only prolongs the uncertainty and keeps the focus on legal technicalities rather than protecting our communities.
The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee stands firmly with Attorney General Austin Knudsen and full cooperation between state and federal law enforcement. We will continue to monitor this situation closely.
We urge every conservative in the Gallatin Valley to stay informed and make your voice heard — especially in the June 2 Republican primary. We need elected officials at every level who prioritize public safety and the rule of law over delay tactics and privacy excuses that shield criminal activity.
Read the full Supreme Court filing here:
https://supremecourtdocket.mt.gov/case-info/active/29178
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