Nevada’s Sanctuary Status Under Scrutiny After Trump’s Executive Order
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — President Donald Trump’s recent executive order targeting "sanctuary jurisdictions" has reignited debates over Nevada’s status regarding undocumented immigrants. While Trump’s directive calls for the identification of areas resisting federal immigration enforcement, conservative groups like the Federation for American Immigration Reform have not classified Nevada as a sanctuary state.
The history of sanctuary policies in Nevada is complex. In 2017, Clark County was labeled a "non-cooperative jurisdiction" by ICE, prompting then-Sheriff Joe Lombardo to assert his department’s cooperation with federal agencies. Despite terminating a partnership to enforce immigration law, Lombardo’s department continued notifying ICE of undocumented individuals released from jail.
As he campaigns for governor, Lombardo has accused Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford of overstepping in his issuance of model immigration policies, asserting that Nevada will follow federal law. Ford, bound by a 2021 act to foster trust between communities and law enforcement, insists he does not support sanctuary policies. Meanwhile, a bill awaiting Senate review aims to further restrict immigration enforcement in educational settings.
The state’s potential classification as a sanctuary jurisdiction will be clearer when the government’s list is published in approximately a month.
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