Why This Matters to Conservatives
Here’s something that should concern every conservative who values government transparency and the proper role of federal versus local authority. The ACLU of Nevada just filed a lawsuit against the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. They’re demanding records about how local police are working with federal immigration agents.
The ACLU of Nevada’s petition, filed Wednesday in Clark County District Court, states that the organization submitted requests for records related to the Laken Riley Act and LVMPD’s 287(g) agreement. The police department won’t release these documents. That should raise red flags for anyone who believes in limited government and public accountability.
What’s Really Going On
Las Vegas police made two big changes this year. First, they expanded their “foreign-born” booking policy after Congress passed the Laken Riley Act in January. The measure directs federal immigration enforcement to detain and deport those without legal status charged with minor theft or shoplifting, assault of a law enforcement officer or crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury of another person.
Second, they signed up for something called the 287(g) program. This lets local cops do the job of federal immigration agents. The 287(g) Program enhances the safety and security of our nation’s communities by allowing ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the U.S.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill explained it simply in June: “When you walk in the door to our jail and you’re arrested for a certain offense and you’re foreign born, we make a notification to ICE,” McMahill said during the June interview. “I started to see that we were still having to let some very serious criminals out of our jail, that ICE wasn’t picking up.”
The Conservative Case for Enforcement
The Laken Riley Act passed with strong bipartisan support. The bill, known as the Laken Riley Act, passed the House 263-156 with the support of 46 Democrats. It’s named after a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by someone here illegally who had a criminal record.
President Trump signed it into law on January 29, calling it “a landmark law that we are doing today, it will save countless innocent American lives.” The law requires federal agents to detain people charged with theft, burglary, or assault on law enforcement officers.
The 287(g) program makes sense too. It helps local police work with federal agents to catch dangerous criminals. With a 287(g) partnership, state and local law enforcement agencies and ICE work together to deport removable aliens involved in gang activity, violent crimes, human smuggling, organized crime, sex offenses, drug smuggling, money laundering and many other crimes.
Since Trump took office, As of July 8, 2025, at 3 p.m., ICE has signed 806 Memorandums of Agreement for 287(g) programs covering 40 states. That’s a huge increase from before.
What Critics Are Saying
The ACLU and other liberal groups don’t like these programs. They claim they lead to racial profiling and hurt community trust in police. ACLU officials claim that the policy “could be used as a pretense to attack naturalized citizens and others.”
ACLU Nevada’s executive director said: “Nevadans have the right to know what their local police agencies are doing when it comes to cooperation with ICE,” ACLU of Nevada executive director Athar Haseebullah said in a statement.
Some police chiefs worry about community relations. But supporters argue that public safety comes first.
The Real Problem Here
The bigger issue isn’t whether these programs work. It’s that government agencies are hiding information from the public. Las Vegas police won’t release basic records about how they’re spending taxpayer money and using their authority.
If you believe in limited government, you should demand transparency. When police departments make secret deals with federal agencies, that’s exactly the kind of government overreach conservatives should oppose.
The ACLU submitted their records requests in January and June. The group says this raises serious concerns about the full extent of LVMPD’s cooperation with ICE. Still no response from the police.
What Comes Next
The ACLU is asking a judge to issue an injunction ordering LVMPD to turn over all the requested documents, along with an order for civil penalties for violating Nevada’s public records law.
This lawsuit could set an important precedent. If police departments can hide how they work with federal agencies, what else are they keeping secret?
The 287(g) program is expanding fast across the country. Overall, ICE initiated 514 new agreements with local law enforcement agencies across 40 states since January. Florida now requires all its police agencies to participate.
What Conservatives Should Do
Support the enforcement programs but demand transparency. Call your local sheriff or police chief. Ask them to explain any deals they have with federal agencies. Make sure they’re following your state’s public records laws.
The Laken Riley Act and 287(g) programs can help keep communities safe. But they must operate in the open. Secret government is bad government, no matter who’s running it.
We can enforce immigration laws and protect public safety without hiding from taxpayers. That’s what real limited government looks like.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
