Nevada just made a deal with the federal government that should make conservatives smile.
The state signed what’s called a “memorandum of understanding” with the Department of Justice. Think of it as a handshake agreement between Nevada and the feds to work together on immigration enforcement.
What Actually Happened
Governor Joe Lombardo, a Republican, has been working hard to make sure Nevada doesn’t become a “sanctuary state.” A sanctuary state is one that refuses to help federal immigration authorities catch people who are in the country illegally.
The Department of Justice had actually put Nevada on a list of states with sanctuary policies back in August. That was a sore spot for Governor Lombardo, who has been trying to show he’s tough on illegal immigration.
But now Nevada is off that list because of this new agreement.
The deal commits Nevada to several key things. The state will keep using federal emergency money to help with immigration enforcement. They’ll also continue using the Nevada National Guard to assist federal agents with administrative work at detention facilities.
The document shows Governor Lombardo has been busy fighting sanctuary policies for months.
As the agreement states:
“Nevada is not a sanctuary state and will never be a sanctuary jurisdiction under Governor Lombardo.”
The Political Battle Behind the Scenes
This agreement didn’t happen in a vacuum. There’s been a real political fight in Nevada over immigration policy. Governor Lombardo has been pushing for tougher enforcement. But the state’s Attorney General, Aaron Ford, has been going the opposite direction.
Ford issued what he called “Model Immigration Policies” that told local law enforcement not to help federal immigration authorities. Governor Lombardo quickly shot that down.
The memorandum quotes his response:
“Let me be clear: The Attorney General does not have the authority to make Nevada a sanctuary state or jurisdiction. As long as I am Governor, Nevada will continue to follow federal law.”
The new federal agreement specifically says Nevada will work to:
“counter-balance any actions the Nevada Attorney General and Nevada Legislature may take to enact unlawful sanctuary policies.”
That’s political speak for saying the Governor will fight back if other state officials try to block immigration enforcement.
The document shows just how active Governor Lombardo has been. In June, he vetoed a bill that:
“would have barred Nevada public schools, including charter schools, from allowing federal immigration officers onto school property.”
He said the bill would:
“effectively make school grounds permanent sanctuary zones.”
The Nevada Department of Corrections has also stepped up. The agreement notes that:
“since Governor Lombardo took office, NDOC has collaborated with ICE to arrange custody transfers.”
Before President Trump’s second term, ICE only collected “less than 20% of NDOC released offenders upon release.” Now the department “releases 100% of offenders on ICE detainers to federal authorities.”
Looking Ahead
This agreement is likely just the beginning. The Department of Justice has said it wants to work with more states that are willing to help with immigration enforcement. Conservative states that have been fighting sanctuary policies may see Nevada as a model to follow.
Governor Lombardo is up for re-election in 2026. His tough stance on immigration enforcement will likely be a key part of his campaign. This federal agreement gives him something concrete to point to when he talks about getting results.
The numbers tell the story of why this cooperation matters. Since January, federal authorities have made over 30,000 immigration arrests. They’ve seized 46 million fentanyl pills. They’ve found over 5,500 unaccompanied children who entered illegally. These results happen when different levels of government work together.
Nevada’s deal with the Justice Department shows that states don’t have to choose between defying federal law and giving up their independence. They can work as partners to enforce the law and protect their communities. That’s exactly the kind of practical conservatism that gets results.
Read the full memorandum here: Nevada-Memorandum-of-Understanding
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
