The mood was calm, yet tense, at the Walnut Community Center in northwest Las Vegas on a late February afternoon. Dozens of people trickled in for a "Know Your Rights" immigration town hall hosted by Clark County.
The event was the second of its kind this year. Panelists included government, police, school officials, and an immigration expert.
Among the attendees was Juan from Las Vegas, who has no legal status in the U.S. and says he’s afraid of encountering ICE when he goes outside his home. He didn’t give his last name due to safety concerns.
Another Las Vegas man who only shared his first name, Luis, is also in the U.S. without legal status.
“I came here to ask for information on how someone can act and defend themselves,” he said in Spanish, “because I imagine one has rights.”
Juan and Luis represent the audience the county aimed to reach with the town hall.
And their concerns are not unfounded. Within a week of President Donald Trump taking office, ICE increased enforcement efforts in Chicago, Boston, New York and other cities.
According to a White House video, ICE had arrested 11,000 people as of Feb. 10.
While the Department of Homeland Security has said it would target people with criminal charges, reporting by NPR and other news outlets indicates substantial numbers of those detained may have no criminal records.
Las Vegas has not seen increased ICE activity, but that’s not the only source of concern. The recently passed Laken Riley Act expands the list of crimes that could lead to immigrants being deported, regardless of a conviction: crimes like burglary, theft, and assaulting a police officer.
Assistant Sheriff Fred Haas with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said the agency would follow federal and local policy on reporting names of foreign-born individuals to ICE for certain crimes, but nothing more.
“We are not out doing round-ups, we are not out going to schools,” he said. “We are here to keep our community safe, reduce violent crime, and reduce traffic fatalities.”
Haas added that it’s important for everyone, regardless of immigration status, to be unafraid to report crimes to the police.
Nevada's unauthorized immigrant population is approximately 210,000 people, or 7% of the state's population — the highest proportion in the nation.
Attendees at the Clark County town hall had plenty of questions about how an immigration crackdown might affect their daily life — particularly work, school, and access to county resources.
Commissioner William McCurdy III said services like emergency rental and utility assistance, and support for families with children, will remain in place.
“We want families to know that Clark County will continue to operate in that manner,” he said, “and will continue to offer services to the community even if they are not documented.”
No schools have confirmed reports of ICE agents showing up — either in Nevada or nationwide.
Clark County School Board Vice President Brenda Zamora noted that school policy protects against immigration officers entering without a warrant. The district also won’t share student immigration information or have school police assist ICE unless legally required, Zamora said.
And regarding workplaces, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada’s Executive Director Athar Haseebullah urged business owners to designate public and private areas.
“ICE can go into the public areas of your business,” Haseebullah said, “but for private areas, they cannot do so. They have to have a warrant to be able to do that.”
Another town hall attendee, Jessica Marquez, said she has a work permit, but no permanent legal status. She wonders what could happen to her and her family.
“I live with a lump in my throat all the time,” Marquez said, “with the fear that it could happen to us.”
If a raid occurs at a workplace or a grocery store, Michael Kagan, director of UNLV’s Immigration Clinic, said people should stay calm and say one line.
“Am I free to go?” Kagan said to the town hall attendees.
“If the ICE officers are following the rules and they don’t actually know who you are, they’re going to have to let you go. And if they’re not following the rules, I don’t want you to fight with them. But the fact that you asked, will make it easier in court later on.”
In addition, Legal Aid Immigration Attorney Giovanni Alonso told KNPR that if questioned by ICE, individuals should only give their name and date of birth — they have the right to remain silent about anything else.
He also advised arranging power of attorney and having a trusted person ready to secure legal help, as those without legal status aren’t provided an attorney.
Luis hopes it never comes to that.
“We come here to work and to advance this great country,” he said. “Although some say no, we're here as stewards giving strength to this great country.”
