In August 2025, Riverton became the first city in Utah to sign a Memorandum of Agreement to participate with an ICE task force, but some residents are concerned about the city’s relationship with ICE and want that agreement rescinded.

By early February, two protests had been organized and several community members attended a recent Riverton City Council meeting to bring their concerns to city leaders. 

“I used to be able to say I was a proud Riverton resident, but I cannot say that anymore,” Douglas Hendricks said. “The reason I can’t say that is because of Riverton's partnership with ICE. That partnership is wrong for many reasons. First of all, it’s wrong just on the basis of human decency. We were told that ICE was going to target the violent criminals. That’s not what’s happening. They’re targeting innocent people.”

Hendricks said he believes ICE is targeting people with brown skin, causing immigrants who live in Riverton to fear deportation. He said these residents are afraid to report crimes to the Riverton Police Department, worrying that the RPD will share their information with ICE. 

“This makes our community less safe, not more safe,” Hendricks said. 

City leaders, however, see the agreement differently. They say it provides a level of communication that keeps the Riverton Police Department apprised of upcoming ICE activity, and that without the agreement, the city would lose that access.

RPD Chief of Police Shane Taylor said as a law enforcement officer, his main concern is public safety and the agreement offers information, a network with federal officials and an open dialogue with ICE agents that’s been beneficial to his department and to the community.

“Knowledge is power and that knowledge is coming to me through the communication with ICE,” Taylor said. “As far as what you’re seeing on national media or other media sources, you’re seeing one part of it. You’re not seeing the totality of the circumstances.”

Riverton Mayor Tish Buroker met with protest organizers to help them understand what the agreement does and what it doesn’t do. As a newly-elected official, Buroker also had questions about the agreement, but said after she met with Taylor to discuss the contract, she found value in what it means to the city.

She wants residents, whatever their immigration status, to feel safe and welcome in Riverton. Having watched national footage of ICE activities and protests, she hopes to alleviate concerns that masked agents will run rampant on the city’s streets, taking people without due process.

“It gets down to a deeper level,” Buroker said. “In Riverton, we’re going to be very kind and caring of all of our residents and I would never support that behavior. We’re just not going to go after people. Never.”

Buroker said during her eight-year tenure as a city council member, she’d never seen anyone organize a protest against the city. She is proud of residents who took the initiative to speak up against what they perceive as injustice and she was happy to meet with protestors to explain the city’s stance. 

She also mentioned RPD Officer Mike Ashley, a member of the Community-Oriented Policing program who works directly with the Hispanic community, offering classes that help educate residents about city resources. 

While entering the country without correct documentation is a misdemeanor, it becomes a felony if a person is deported and returns to the U.S. illegally. Taylor said ICE agents working in Riverton target criminals and must have the proper warrants.

“We’re not focusing on people who are residing here,” he said. “If they commit a criminal offense, then we deal with them appropriately. We’re not seeking them out. I wouldn’t allow my officers to do that.”