Know Your Rights if ICE Comes to Nevada

This page is information, not legal advice. Nevada's enforcement landscape is actively contested. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department rejoined 287(g) in June 2025. The ACLU of Nevada filed a lawsuit arguing the agreement violates state law under Dylan's Law; a judge dismissed the case and the ACLU appealed as of April 2026. Governor Lombardo signed a DOJ agreement in September 2025 removing Nevada from the sanctuary jurisdiction list. The 2025 special session established some school protections. Verify current conditions with the ACLU of Nevada, the CCSD/CCSN community, or a licensed immigration attorney.

Nevada occupies a contested middle ground in immigration enforcement. The state was labeled a sanctuary jurisdiction by the federal government in August 2025, then removed from that list in September 2025 after Governor Joe Lombardo signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Justice committing to full cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police (Metro) rejoined the 287(g) program in June 2025 after years of non-participation. The ACLU of Nevada filed a lawsuit arguing that Metro's 287(g) agreement violates state law - a lawsuit that was dismissed at the trial court level and is on appeal as of April 2026.

Nevada has not enacted a statewide sanctuary law, nor has it enacted a statewide 287(g) mandate. The enforcement landscape is shaped primarily by Clark County (Las Vegas) where Metro and Henderson operate, Washoe County (Reno), and Governor Lombardo's active cooperation with federal priorities. Legislative attempts to protect immigrants have largely failed or been vetoed, though the 2025 special session did add some school-ground protections.

Nevada is home to one of the largest immigrant communities in the West, particularly in Las Vegas and Clark County. Undocumented immigrants work in the hospitality industry, construction, food service, and agricultural sectors across the state. The immigrant community in Nevada is large, established, and deeply integrated into the Las Vegas economy.

Part 1: Your rights under federal law - everywhere, including Nevada

These rights come from the U.S. Constitution. They apply in Nevada regardless of immigration status, citizenship, or how you entered the country.

At your front door

The Fourth Amendment protects your home from government entry without your consent or a judicial warrant. A judicial warrant is signed by a federal judge, based on probable cause, and authorizes entry to a specific address. An administrative warrant - ICE Form I-200 or I-205 - is signed by an immigration officer, not a judge, and does not authorize entry to your home without your consent. Ask through the door which type of warrant is being presented. If it is administrative, you are not required to open the door.

During a traffic stop or street encounter

You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, your immigration history, or your status. You can say you are exercising your right to remain silent and want to speak to a lawyer. You can ask whether you are free to go. If the officer says yes, you may calmly leave.

Do not lie and do not provide false documents. Silence is a legal right. False statements are a separate crime. Many families carry a printed card asserting these rights.

At your workplace

ICE may enter public areas of a workplace without a warrant. Private areas generally require a judicial warrant or employer consent. You have the right to remain silent in any workplace encounter.

Do not sign anything without a lawyer

Documents presented during an ICE arrest may include voluntary departure agreements or stipulated removal orders that waive your right to a hearing before an immigration judge. Do not sign anything without speaking to an attorney first.

Part 2: Metro's 287(g) re-enrollment - and the ACLU challenge

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (Metro), which covers much of Clark County, rejoined the federal 287(g) program in June 2025 under Sheriff Kevin McMahill. Metro had previously had a 287(g) agreement under then-Sheriff Joe Lombardo, which was suspended in 2019 after a federal court ruling that ICE detainers could only be honored in states that permitted arrests for civil immigration violations - and Nevada was not among those states.

Under the new agreement, Metro agreed to hold inmates for up to 48 hours beyond their release date to give ICE time to take custody. Metro's Detention Services Division notifies ICE at both booking and release when a foreign-born individual is arrested on violent felonies, domestic violence, DUI, burglary, theft, larceny, petit larceny, or assault of a law enforcement officer. As of May 2025, the county had flagged 350 people for ICE that year. ICE notifications from Las Vegas rose from 1,099 in 2025 compared to 61 in 2024.

The ACLU's legal challenge - filed, dismissed, appealed

The ACLU of Nevada filed a lawsuit arguing that Metro's 287(g) agreement violates Nevada state law, specifically what the ACLU calls 'Dylan's Law' - the legal principle established by Nevada law and court decisions holding that Nevada peace officers lack authority under state law to make civil immigration arrests or honor civil immigration detainers. The ACLU argued that because Nevada law doesn't authorize local officers to arrest people for civil immigration violations, a 287(g) agreement cannot grant that authority.

A Las Vegas judge dismissed the lawsuit at the trial court level. The ACLU of Nevada filed a notice of appeal in April 2026 to continue the challenge at the Nevada Court of Appeals. The case is ongoing as of mid-2026. If the appeal succeeds, Metro's 287(g) agreement could be invalidated under state law. If the appeal fails, Metro's agreement remains in force. Families in Clark County should verify the current status of this litigation with the ACLU of Nevada before drawing conclusions about whether Metro's enforcement is legally authorized under state law.

Part 3: Governor Lombardo's DOJ agreement

After Nevada was placed on the DOJ's list of sanctuary jurisdictions in August 2025, Governor Lombardo entered into negotiations with the Department of Justice. In September 2025, Lombardo signed a memorandum of understanding with the DOJ committing Nevada to full cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Nevada was then removed from the sanctuary jurisdiction list - the first state removed since the list was published.

The DOJ agreement commits the state to cooperation with federal immigration priorities. Governor Lombardo had already authorized the Nevada National Guard to assist ICE in an 'administrative capacity' over the summer of 2025. That National Guard deployment was extended through September 2026.

Nevada's removal from the sanctuary list reflects the governor's active cooperation with the Trump administration's enforcement priorities. Unlike states with legislative sanctuary protections, Nevada has no such protections in state law, and the governor's posture has been one of cooperation rather than resistance.

Part 4: Henderson, Washoe County, and the rest of Nevada

Henderson Police Department, while not a 287(g) partner, has a detailed immigration policy requiring its jail to inform ICE whenever it has a suspected or confirmed undocumented immigrant in custody. Henderson's detention center contracts with ICE to use approximately 93 beds as of late 2025, making it one of two municipal ICE detention centers in Nevada.

The Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump is a privately operated facility that also holds ICE detainees. It is located in Nye County, approximately 60 miles from Las Vegas.

Washoe County, which includes Reno, has a detention center with ICE detainee capacity. Northern Nevada communities face enforcement primarily through federal ICE operations in the region rather than heavily deputized local agencies. The Reno area has had smaller-scale enforcement operations than Las Vegas.

Outside Clark County and Washoe County, Nevada is rural and enforcement is primarily through federal ICE and CBP operations. Communities in agricultural areas, particularly in Elko County and other northern Nevada agricultural regions, face enforcement risk primarily through direct federal operations.

Part 5: What Nevada has and has not done on immigrant protections

Nevada has failed to pass broader immigrant protection legislation. A 2017 bill to bar police departments from using resources for immigration enforcement died after a planned hearing was canceled. A 2021 similar effort was gutted. Governor Lombardo vetoed a bill in the 2025 regular session that would have limited ICE enforcement on school grounds.

In the 2025 special session, Democrats managed to pass a law limiting law enforcement on school grounds for immigration enforcement purposes. The school protection language was crafted to affect more than just undocumented students - it was worded to avoid federal scrutiny. This is a partial protection that applies on school grounds but does not extend to streets, workplaces, or homes.

Nevada allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses under its 2013 law. Nevada's driver's licenses issued to undocumented individuals are marked in a way that distinguishes them from REAL ID-compliant licenses. Possessing a valid Nevada driver's license does not protect someone from immigration enforcement but does allow them to drive legally.

Part 6: What to do right now, before anything happens

Know your A-number and make sure trusted family members have it written down. In Clark County, if you are arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center, Metro's 287(g) agreement means ICE may be notified depending on your charges.

Know Metro's notification triggers. Under its current agreement, Metro notifies ICE at booking and release for foreign-born individuals arrested on violent felonies, domestic violence, DUI, burglary, theft, larceny, petit larceny, and assault of a law enforcement officer. If you are arrested on any of these charges in Metro's jurisdiction, ICE notification is part of the booking process.

Know that the ACLU's challenge to Metro's 287(g) agreement is on appeal. The outcome of that appeal could affect whether the current enforcement arrangement is legally valid under Nevada state law. Monitor this litigation with the ACLU of Nevada.

Identify an immigration attorney before you need one. Nevada Immigrant Coalition, Immigration Advocates Network, and attorneys in Las Vegas's large immigration legal community are primary resources.

Prepare guardianship documents for any children. Clark County has one of the largest immigrant communities in the West, and many Nevada families are mixed-status. Set up a financial power of attorney so a trusted person can manage accounts and property if you are detained.

Part 7: Legal help and resources in Nevada

The ACLU of Nevada has been the most active organization on immigration enforcement in Nevada, having filed and appealed the Metro 287(g) challenge. Their executive director Athar Haseebullah has been publicly engaged on these issues. Their website is aclunv.org.

The Nevada Immigrant Coalition is the statewide advocacy organization for immigrant communities in Nevada and provides connections to legal resources and community support.

Immigration attorneys in Las Vegas serve the large Clark County immigrant community. Immigration Advocates Network lists Nevada legal providers at immigrationadvocates.org.

The Nevada Independent has been the primary news organization covering Nevada's immigration enforcement landscape in depth, including the Metro 287(g) situation and the Governor's DOJ agreement.

For immigration court case information, call the EOIR automated line at 1-800-898-7180. To locate someone in ICE custody, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov. Nevada ICE detainees may be held at the Henderson Detention Center, the Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump, the Washoe County Detention Facility, or transferred to other facilities. Call the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024 if your person does not appear in the locator.

Nevada's enforcement landscape is actively shaped by Metro's 287(g) re-enrollment, the Governor's DOJ cooperation agreement, and the ACLU's ongoing legal challenge to Metro's agreement. No statewide sanctuary protections exist. School-ground protections were enacted in the 2025 special session. The ACLU's appeal of the Metro 287(g) lawsuit was pending as of April 2026, and its outcome could significantly affect the legal basis for Metro's enforcement. Your federal constitutional rights apply in full: an administrative warrant does not authorize entry to your home, your right to remain silent is unchanged, and you cannot be compelled to sign anything without a lawyer. Monitoring the ACLU litigation, knowing Metro's notification triggers, and having legal contacts before a crisis are the foundations for protecting your family in Nevada.

This page reflects conditions as of mid-2026. Metro's 287(g) agreement was signed June 2025. Governor Lombardo's DOJ MOU was signed September 2025. The ACLU of Nevada filed a notice of appeal of the trial court dismissal in April 2026. The National Guard deployment was extended through September 2026. Verify the current status of the ACLU appeal and any new legislative developments with the ACLU of Nevada.