Following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and swift and widespread action to crack down on illegal immigration, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Chief Sheriff Kevin McMahill has ordered officers to limit their cooperation with immigration authorities. We have strengthened our guiding policies. and Customs Enforcement (IC) will not cooperate in “roundups” of federal immigrants.
In a statement posted Tuesday, the department emphasized that it does not investigate violations of immigration law. The ministry said the statement was in response to “immigration-related questions.”
The policy, which was enacted under the first Trump administration in 2019 and later amended in 2023, states that “Nevada peace officers have the authority to assist in federal law enforcement, but LVMPD officers have the authority to assist in immigration law enforcement.” Violations will not be enforced.” “Police officers will not stop, question, detain, or perform immigration control on any individual on the basis that he or she is an illegal immigrant.
“It is the policy of this department to recognize the dignity of all people, regardless of their national origin or immigration status,” the policy states. “LVMPD is committed to community-based policing as a strategy focused on building relationships with community members, regardless of the immigration status of suspects or victims.”
‘Loud and Clear’: Border State Legislatures to Overturn Trump’s Deportation
President Donald Trump and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill. (Getty Images)
According to LVMPD policy, the department “shares criminal intelligence related to transnational organized crime and international terrorism with all law enforcement agencies, including ICE.”
The policy also states that the department will notify ICE if a foreign-born individual is arrested and charged with a violent felony, domestic violence, or DUI at the time of booking and release.
Department of Justice investigates state or local officials who obstruct immigration enforcement: memo
However, LVMPD policy states that the agency “will not delay the release of inmates for ICE” and will release immigrants “if ICE is not present at the time of the inmate’s release.”
In an interview with local media outlet 8 News Now, McMahill said his officials would not cooperate with federal authorities in “rounding up” illegal immigrants. “That’s not my job. I have too much to do.
“We’re not going to change that policy any time soon. What I’d like to see is a bipartisan effort to secure our borders.”
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill speaks to the media at police headquarters in Las Vegas on January 7, 2025. (KM Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal, via AP)
Click here for more information on immigration
ICE has said in previous statements that when law enforcement agencies refuse to respect immigration “detainees” or withhold their requests, it requires potentially violent confrontations and arrests in public spaces and threatens staff and the community. He said it was putting society at risk unnecessarily.
President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has spoken out explicitly against public officials who have vowed not to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“When you bring threats to public safety back into the community, you put the community at great risk of crime and you put the police officers at great risk. Now they have to arrest the bad guys on their turf.” No one knows which weapons can be accessed by anyone, putting the public at risk,” Homan told Fox News on Wednesday.
“Dear Sanctuary Cities, I’ve said it many times: Let’s put them in jail. It’s safer for investigators to arrest bad guys there; It is also safe for society.
“I want to save lives. A secure border saves lives. And if President Trump closes this border, fewer women and children will be sex trafficked in this country, and fewer foreign nationals will die while crossing.” “It will decrease,” he added.
“Sanctuary cities are going to get exactly what they don’t want: more operatives in their communities, more people arrested, more collaterals arrested. So, is that the game they want to play? Keep playing the game.”
Peter Pinedo is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
Source link