How Las Vegas Police Navigate Immigration Laws and Maintain Community Trust

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, daytime.

Las Vegas Police Department refuses to assist in Trump’s immigration enforcement, citing community trust as a priority.

Key Takeaways

Sheriff Kevin McMahill of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) declares his officers will not participate in illegal immigrant “roundups.”
LVMPD’s policy, first instituted in 2019 and amended in 2023, emphasizes community-oriented policing over immigration enforcement.
The department will share criminal intelligence with ICE regarding transnational organized crime and international terrorism but won’t delay releases for ICE.
Trump administration threatens to investigate and prosecute local efforts that obstruct its immigration policies.
ICE criticizes law enforcement agencies refusing to honor immigration detainers, arguing it endangers communities and agents.

Las Vegas Police Stand Firm on Immigration Policy

In a bold stance against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) has reaffirmed his department’s commitment to community-oriented policing. The LVMPD’s policy, which prioritizes building trust with all community members regardless of their immigration status, stands in stark contrast to the federal government’s push for local law enforcement involvement in immigration matters.

Sheriff McMahill made his position clear, stating, “That’s not my job; I have too much to do.” This declaration comes as the Trump administration initiates mass deportations and ICE conducts what they term “targeted enforcement operations.” The LVMPD’s policy, first implemented in 2019 and updated in 2023, explicitly prohibits officers from investigating immigration violations or detaining individuals solely based on their undocumented status.

https://t.co/r4lMyfxWuQ

— Shaneⓧ🟧🦇🟦 (@ShaneAChristie) September 1, 2024

Federal Pressure and Local Resistance

The Trump administration has not taken kindly to this resistance from local law enforcement agencies. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued a memo stating, “federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests.” This threat of investigation and prosecution has created tension between federal and local authorities.

“federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests.” – Emil Bove

Despite this pressure, Las Vegas is not alone in its stance. Police departments in Chicago, Omaha, and Stockton have also stated they will not assist in immigration enforcement without a reported crime. This resistance complicates the federal government’s plans for mass deportations, which rely heavily on cooperation from state and local law enforcement.

Balancing Act: Public Safety and Community Trust

While the LVMPD maintains its non-cooperation stance on immigration enforcement, it does have provisions for working with federal authorities in specific circumstances. The department will share criminal intelligence with law enforcement agencies, including ICE, regarding transnational organized crime and international terrorism. Additionally, LVMPD will notify ICE when a foreign-born individual is arrested for violent felonies, domestic violence, or DUI, but will not delay their release for ICE.

“When you release a public safety threat back into the community, that puts the community at great risk of crime, and it puts our officers at great risk. Now, they’ve got to arrest the bad guy on his turf, where he has access to who knows what weapons, and it puts the public at risk” – Tom Homan

Critics of this approach, including Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, argue that such policies endanger communities and law enforcement officers. They emphasize the importance of a secure border in reducing crime and saving lives. However, Sheriff McMahill and other local law enforcement leaders maintain that community trust is paramount for effective policing and public safety.

Looking Ahead

As the debate over immigration enforcement continues, the LVMPD’s stance reflects a growing trend among local law enforcement agencies prioritizing community relations over federal immigration policies. Sheriff McMahill has expressed hope for a bipartisan effort to secure the border but remains committed to the current policy. This approach underscores the complex balance local police departments must strike between federal expectations and the realities of maintaining public safety and trust in diverse communities.