Steps the governor took to win Trump administration approval include continuing to use the state’s National Guard to provide administrative support to ICE. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Nevada was removed from the Trump administration’s list of “sanctuary” states this week after Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo signed an agreement with the Department of Justice to fully collaborate on federal immigration enforcement — making Nevada the first state to be removed from the list.
Nevada was initially placed on the federal list of sanctuary jurisdictions on Aug. 5 following an executive order by President Donald Trump directing the Justice Department – in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security – to identify places where officials “continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.”
Lombardo has denied Nevada’s status as a sanctuary state since making it on the list, and said the agreement “reaffirms our commitment to following federal immigration law in Nevada.”
In a statement announcing the agreement, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said “We applaud Governor Lombardo and Nevada for taking necessary steps to fully comply with the Trump Administration’s immigration policy. This should serve as a reminder to other jurisdictions: come to the table and work with us instead of going to court.”
The agreement lists several commitments Nevada must make to remain off the list of sanctuary states in the future, including the continued use of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds to assist in federal immigration operations.
In August, Nevada agreed to use FEMA funds to upgrade detention facilities at the Washoe County Jail to include dedicated holding cells and office space for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Under the agreement, Nevada will also continue to use the state’s National Guard to provide administrative support in immigration enforcement operations.
“DOJ will provide notice of further opportunities for Nevada to collaborate with the federal government on immigration enforcement including identification of laws and policies that impede federal law enforcement,” the agreement reads.
The agreement points to several policies that lead the Justice Department to place Nevada on the list of sanctuary jurisdictions, including the state’s “Model Immigration Policies,” which offers guidance from the Nevada Attorney General to state employees on how to interact with federal immigration enforcement authorities.
The non-binding policies were mandated by the Nevada Legislature in 2021 and include guidance for limiting immigration enforcement in public spaces, while also complying with federal law.
Lombardo accused Nevada’s Attorney General Aaron Ford of attempting to “implement sanctuary policies” through the model immigration policies.
“Despite the Attorney General’s attempts to implement sanctuary policies, Nevada is not a sanctuary state, has never been a sanctuary state, and will never be a sanctuary state under my leadership,” Lombardo said.
The agreement also notes that “Nevada will take steps available in law to counter-balance any actions the Nevada Attorney General and Nevada Legislature may take to enact unlawful sanctuary policies.”
In response to Lombardo’s comment and the agreement, Ford emphasized that he has “never supported sanctuary for criminals.”
“The sanctuary designation from the Trump administration happened on Governor Lombardo’s watch — which is yet another failure of his tenure,” Ford said. “Unlike the governor, I have actually passed legislation to crack down on fentanyl being trafficked across our border, and have won more than $1 billion to combat the opioid issue right here in Nevada.”
The agreement outlines several actions Lombardo and state officials took to remove Nevada from the list of sanctuary jurisdictions, including the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department rejoining the federal 287(g) program in June, which authorizes officers to perform some immigration enforcement functions.
Lombardo’s veto of a bill that would prohibit school employees from granting permission to immigration officers to enter a school or provide student records without a warrant was also highlighted in the agreement.
The agreement also noted actions Lombardo took to stop Nevada’s Office for New Americans from providing legal assistance referrals for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and those seeking Temporary Protected Status or Legal Permanent Residency.
