Amid growing concerns about immigration enforcement, the Nevada Immigrant Coalition is urging state legislators to consider three pivotal changes. The coalition’s proposals start with legislation to prohibit local police and Nevada National Guard members from wearing masks during public interactions. More details can be found here.
Additionally, the coalition aims to restrict immigration officials from entering places such as daycare centers, schools, hospitals, and worship venues without a warrant. This comes after the governor vetoed a bill earlier this year that sought to protect only public schools.
The third proposal is to limit the state’s collection and sharing of data solely for immigration law enforcement purposes. This issue is highlighted by the ongoing lawsuit from the ACLU of Nevada against the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is accused of not fully disclosing documents related to its cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Noé Orosco, the coalition’s coordinator, emphasized the urgency of these actions and stated that they cannot be delayed until the regular 2027 session.
“El gobernador lo mencionó un poco, aunque no de forma explícita, en su proclamación. Siempre que se convoca una sesión especial, es porque se trata de una emergencia. Y nosotros, la Coalición de Inmigrantes de Nevada, creemos firmemente que el hecho de que nuestros miembros de la comunidad están siendo secuestrados en las calles es una crisis y algo que debe abordarse con urgencia”, señaló Orosco.
A source familiar with the situation informed KUNR that outgoing Assembly Speaker, Democrat Steve Yeager, has already declined to address these issues during the special session. His spokesperson, Liz Luna, did not respond to multiple requests for comment and avoided journalists in Carson City, stating the lack of staff to allow virtual testimonies on the Assembly bills.
“Les dije que solo iba a darles dos comentarios”, said Luna to KUNR.
Currently, there is a resolution that mandates the legislature to conduct a simple study on immigration enforcement activities, which does not require the governor’s signature for approval. However, Orosco argued that this is insufficient.
“Hay muchos estudiantes que tienen miedo de que, si van a la escuela, ellos mismos sean detenidos por su estatus, o que uno de sus padres o tutores sea detenido cuando los llevan a la escuela. También existe el temor de que, al volver a casa, se encuentren con que está vacía porque sus padres o tutores han sido detenidos”, explicó Orosco. “Por lo tanto, decir que quieren hacer un estudio para evaluar los impactos de la inmigración en Nevada no es satisfactorio para la coalición”.
The ACLU of Nevada also sent a letter to the legislature, shared with KUNR, urging an amendment to the governor’s crime bill to investigate individuals acting as law enforcement officers who detain, remove, or restrict others while being unidentifiable due to masks or lack of visible identification. This proposal was not included in the legislation.
