Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers will not enforce immigration violations, the department emphasized on Tuesday night by posting a department policy on social media.
The policy, 4.166, was revised in 2019 and again in 2023. The department posted it on X, formerly Twitter, in response to media inquiries.
On day one of his second term, President Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders and policies on immigration, including "realigning" the Refugee Admission Program, designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, declaring a national emergency at the southern border, and ending automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who don't have legal status.
The LVMPD policy reads in full:
"It is the policy of this department to recognize the dignity of all persons, regardless of their national origin or immigration status. LVMPD strives to serve and protect the community with the highest regard for public safety and professionalism. LVMPD is committed to community-oriented policing as a strategy that focuses on developing relationships with community members regardless of the immigration status of a suspect or victim.
Although Nevada peace officers have the authority to assist in enforcing federal laws, LVMPD officers will not enforce immigration violations. Officers will not stop and question, detain, arrest, or place an immigration hold on any individuals on the grounds they are an undocumented immigrant. However, LVMPD will share criminal intelligence regarding transnational organized crime and international terrorism with any and all law enforcement agencies to include ICE. Citizens reporting suspected undocumented immigrants will be referred to the local ICE office.
When a foreign-born individual is arrested and charged with a violent felony, domestic violence, and/or driving under the influence (DUI), the Detention Services Division (DSD) will notify ICE at the time of both booking and release. These charges have the highest impact on public safety. LVMPD will not delay the release of an inmate for ICE. However, LVMPD will honor federal judicial warrants for arrest from ICE. If ICE is not present at the time of the inmate's release, and there is no judicial warrant, DSD will release the inmate."
It wasn't immediately known if the Henderson and North Las Vegas police departments have similar policies.
