Update: Gallatin County Attorney Defies AG Knudsen on ICE Cooperation – Standoff Continues
Update: Gallatin County Attorney Defies AG Knudsen on ICE Cooperation – Standoff Continues
On April 2, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen gave Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell a clear deadline: April 6 to rescind her office’s unlawful position that refuses to recognize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a criminal justice agency entitled to Confidential Criminal Justice Information (CCJI).
That deadline has now passed.
On April 6, Cromwell sent a formal response to the Attorney General. She did not rescind the policy or issue any formal change in how her office handles ICE requests. Instead, she claimed there is “no blanket policy” restricting cooperation with federal agents and described the original October 2025 email as nothing more than a “one-off, case-specific legal inquiry.”
Rather than complying with the Attorney General’s demand, Cromwell flipped the issue back to Knudsen’s office. She is now requesting a binding legal opinion from the Attorney General on whether counties can share non-public CCJI with ICE for civil or administrative matters without a court order.
The Attorney General’s office responded that they are “reviewing the county attorney’s response to determine any necessary next steps.” No further action has been announced.
Gallatin County Republicans believe this is not the time for legal games or delay tactics. Public safety should not depend on endless legal opinions while federal law enforcement is trying to do its job. When local officials create obstacles for ICE, they put the safety of every Gallatin County resident at risk.
We continue to stand firmly with Attorney General Austin Knudsen and full cooperation between state and federal law enforcement. Montana is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, and our local officials should not be acting like one.
The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee will keep monitoring 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 put the rule of law and public safety first.
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