Jackson man wrongly detained by ICE in church parking lot after 26 years in town
Jul 23, 2025·Location: Jackson, WY
Country of origin: Mexico

Juan Barranco Castro, 56, a Jackson, Wyoming resident of 26 years, was arrested by ICE agents in the parking lot of Community Bible Church as he drove to work during a multiday immigration operation in July 2025. Friends said agents had been searching for another person who drove a similar vehicle and detained Castro by mistake. He was handcuffed, placed in leg irons and belly chains, and taken to the Sweetwater County Detention Center in Rock Springs before being transferred to a federal facility elsewhere. Court documents show no criminal convictions or pending charges against Castro. The operation detained at least nine people across Teton County, and Jackson restaurant workers and community members organized in response to his arrest.
Sources
- Man living in community for 26 years detained by ICE in church parking lot
Newsweek·Jul 31, 2025·archived copy
- Detaining Jackson Hole immigrants, ICE agents target western Wyoming
wyofile.com·Jul 30, 2025·archived copy
- After ICE arrest, Jackson restaurant worker’s community springs into action
wyofile.com·Sep 25, 2026
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