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Attorneys general

Nevada Listed as Sanctuary Jurisdiction by Department of Justice

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has added Nevada to a list of jurisdictions that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws, sparking a heated exchange between Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford. The list also includes 11 other states and several major cities, with the DOJ indicating it will work with jurisdictions to eliminate their "sanctuary policies." Lombardo's office has disputed the inclusion, citing ongoing efforts to clarify the reasons behind Nevada's listing.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Department of Justice has listed Nevada as a sanctuary jurisdiction, along with 11 other states and several major cities, due to policies that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.
  • Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo's office maintains that Nevada is not a sanctuary state, despite the Attorney General's assertion, and has repeatedly reached out to the DOJ for clarification.
  • Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford has expressed opposition to sanctuary policies, stating that they provide shelter to criminals.
  • U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has pledged to work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eliminate "harmful sanctuary policies" around the country.
  • Las Vegas is not included on the DOJ's list, reportedly due to a subsequent cooperation agreement between Metro Police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Statistics:

  • 11 states and several major cities are listed as sanctuary jurisdictions by the Department of Justice.
  • 72% of residents in Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, oppose sanctuary policies (Source: KSNV).
  • 61% of Nevadans support stricter immigration laws (Source: Las Vegas Sun).
  • The number of undocumented immigrants in Nevada is estimated to be around 245,000 (Source: Pew Research Center).
  • The DOJ has launched litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions, citing concerns over law enforcement and public safety.

Sources:

  • U.S Department of Justice (listed states and cities)
  • Tribun Content Agency LLC (Las Vegas Sun article)
  • KSNV (Clark County Sheriff's statement)
  • Pew Research Center (undocumented immigrant estimates)

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