No Evidence Immigration Agents Target Recreational Shooters in Forests

As of August 21, 2025, there is no credible or current evidence that immigration agents are specifically targeting recreational shooters on national forest land. Recent guidance, budget plans, and local updates all point to a priority on safety and land stewardship. The U.S. Forest Service continues to manage shooting on public lands through safety rules and site planning, not immigration status checks.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, no federal, state, or local actions in 2024–2025 show a shift toward immigration enforcement aimed at people who shoot on federal forests and grasslands.

Federal guidance and legislation

The U.S. Forest Service’s 2025 guidance on shooting sports emphasizes:

• Safe practices
• Environmental protection
• Compliance with local restrictions

It does not include plans for immigration enforcement or joint operations with immigration agents.

Congressional and legislative actions align with those priorities:

• H.R.6492 (118th Congress, 2023–2024) focuses on making recreation safer and easier by creating new target ranges and improving features like backstops and parking.
• The law’s emphasis is on public safety and infrastructure, not immigration checks connected to shooting.

Local actions and funding priorities

Local updates in mid-2025 reinforce the national pattern:

• In Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties (Colorado), officials announced new ranges and the closure of unsafe areas in July–August 2025.
• Goals for these local steps include reducing conflicts, protecting homes and roads, and directing shooters to safer locations.
• None of these measures reference immigration enforcement.

The 2025 USDA Forest Service budget prioritizes:

• Wildfire risk reduction
• Site maintenance
• Recreation management

It does not allocate funds to immigration enforcement related to shooting on federal land.

Policy and enforcement landscape

For visitors carrying a rifle or shotgun in national forests:

• Recreational shooting is allowed in many national forest and grassland areas unless a local order or closure says otherwise.
• Rangers and law enforcement focus on:
  • Distance from homes and campsites
  • Safe backstops
  • Bans on shooting across roads or water
• The recurring message for 2024–2025: follow safety rules and local closures, and pack out your trash.

There is no program aimed at checking people’s origins or immigration status based on where they were born.

Federal and local efforts emphasize providing managed shooting spaces:

• Building or improving designated ranges to contain noise and hazards
• Encouraging managed spaces to reduce scattered shooting in sensitive areas
• States and counties opening supervised sites and closing risky spots

Across these efforts, immigration agents do not appear, and immigration status is not used as a screening point.

Agency priorities and funding documentation for 2025 consistently show spending on:

• Wildfire prevention
• Road and site repairs
• Visitor safety

Public documents do not list immigration enforcement tasks tied to recreational shooters. When rangers respond, it is typically due to unsafe behavior or violations of posted rules, not a person’s country of origin.

Legal context and on-the-ground rules

Federal firearms law restricts who may possess a gun. Key points:

• Certain non-citizens (e.g., undocumented people and most non‑immigrant visa holders) are barred from possessing firearms, with exceptions such as valid hunting licenses or participation in sanctioned events.
• These federal rules are enforced principally by federal law enforcement agencies (for example, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives).
• The U.S. Forest Service does not run immigration enforcement programs, and there is no plan in 2024–2025 to link routine shooting checks with immigration status.

On the ground, the rules that matter most to recreational shooters are about safety and location:

• Use suitable targets
• Avoid shooting across roads and trails
• Keep a safe distance from homes and camps
• Obey posted closures
• During high fire danger, fire restrictions can limit or pause shooting using certain ammunition because of spark risk

Rangers may check for safe setups or compliance with closure orders, but they do not conduct immigration status checks as part of routine enforcement. The agency’s public guidance clarifies where and how shooting is allowed: https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/shooting.

State laws can impose additional rules:

• Some states set stricter distance requirements
• Others limit times and locations for shooting
• Some require eye and ear protection at public ranges

Across 2024–2025 state and local updates, changes tie to safety, noise, and land use planning, not coordinated immigration enforcement.

Impact on communities and non-citizens

The absence of immigration-focused operations on federal forests affects many community activities:

• Families teaching new shooters basic safety
• Hunters sighting in rifles before a season
• Club members meeting at managed ranges near national forests

All of these visitors face the same expectations: be safe, respect closures, and clean up. They do not face checkpoints or status screening tied to these activities.

For non-citizens, important cautions remain:

• Federal firearms rules still apply everywhere, including on public lands.
• A visitor on a non‑immigrant visa with a valid hunting license may qualify for an exception; someone without that license may not.
• People with questions should consult a qualified attorney or check federal resources before handling a gun.

It is equally important to note what is not happening: there is no reported effort by immigration agents to seek out recreational shooters on national forests because of their status.

Practical steps for shooters

To stay safe and avoid trouble, follow these steps:

1. Check for local closures and fire restrictions before you go.
2. Set up a safe backstop; don’t shoot across roads, trails, or water.
3. Use approved targets; avoid glass and explosive items.
4. Keep distance from homes, campsites, and trailheads.
5. Pack out all trash, including shells and targets.
6. If you are a non-citizen, review federal possession rules and any license requirements before handling a firearm.

Key takeaway

Public records from 2024–2025 point in one direction: there is no current requirement or practice for immigration status checks as part of routine recreational shooting enforcement on national forest land. The focus remains on safety and land management. Unless new laws or orders are issued, that is the operating reality on the ground.