Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford’s weekend appearance on CBS Las Vegas has ignited a fierce political battle over his immigration record, with Ford claiming he has “never supported sanctuary for criminals” while opponents immediately fired back with evidence of his sponsorship of sanctuary state legislation.
During the CBS interview, Ford was pressed about Nevada potentially becoming a sanctuary state. His categorical denial – “I have never supported sanctuary for criminals” – prompted swift pushback from Republican groups who pointed to his well-documented record as primary sponsor of Senate Bill 223 in 2017.
The bill, titled to “restrict certain state and local governmental agencies from performing certain actions relating to immigration enforcement,” represented exactly the type of sanctuary policies Ford now claims to oppose. The legislation would have prohibited Nevada law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities without a judicial warrant.
PAC Fires Back with Documented Record
Ford’s CBS denial prompted immediate pushback from Better Nevada PAC, the political action committee backing Governor Lombardo. PAC spokesman John Burke accused Ford of doubling down on a “radical open-border agenda.”
“Ford can’t be trusted to keep us safe, represent the interests of Nevadans, or uphold the public’s trust,” Burke said in a statement.
“Aaron Ford is a corrupt politician who has spent his career pushing his dangerous woke agenda on Nevada families.”
Burke pointed to Ford’s documented legislative record, noting his name appears prominently as a primary sponsor of Senate Bill 223, alongside senators Cancela, Segerblom, Ratti, Denis, Atkinson, Manendo, Parks, Spearman and Woodhouse.
The 2017 legislation put significant federal funding at risk – fiscal notes warned of potential losses up to $23 million annually. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department specifically warned that SB 223 could have jeopardized $8.5 million in federal funding for Metro alone.
Current Sanctuary Policies by Another Name
Just this year, Ford’s office released “Model Immigration Policies” that implement sanctuary practices while avoiding the politically toxic label.
The policies state that law enforcement “personnel will not detain, continue to detain, delay release or arrest any person in response to an administrative warrant entered into the National Crime Information Center database, unless provided with a judicial warrant.”
These guidelines effectively tell Nevada law enforcement not to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – the functional definition of sanctuary policies that Ford claimed on CBS he has “never supported.”
Legal Warfare Against Immigration Enforcement
As Attorney General, Ford has used taxpayer resources to consistently obstruct federal immigration enforcement:
- Border Wall Opposition: Joined multiple lawsuits challenging Trump’s border wall emergency declaration
- Current Litigation: Filed federal lawsuits against the Trump administration over immigration funding conditions
- ICE Obstruction: Even sued over ICE agents wearing masks during enforcement operations
Ford has tangled with Trump administrations 33 times in legal battles, establishing a clear pattern of using his office to oppose immigration enforcement.
“Know Your Rights” Workshops
Perhaps most telling, Ford has personally hosted workshops teaching immigrants – including those here illegally – how to avoid cooperating with law enforcement. His office released multilingual “Know Your Rights” documents, including Mandarin-language guides, specifically designed to help individuals evade deportation.
At a packed workshop at the Immigrant Home Foundation, Ford told the crowd: “Every person living in our state has constitutional rights” and that he “will be the ones protecting that” – a clear commitment to shielding individuals from immigration enforcement regardless of legal status.
The Consequences: Nevada Listed as Sanctuary State
Ford’s consistent opposition to immigration enforcement has had real consequences. Nevada was recently placed on a federal list of “sanctuary states,” potentially jeopardizing millions in federal grants under current executive orders.
Governor Lombardo, a former sheriff who says he played a role in more than 10,000 deportations, blamed Ford for the designation:
“Despite the Attorney General’s attempts to implement sanctuary policies, Nevada is not a sanctuary state.”
Political Calculation vs. Record
The CBS interview appears to represent a calculated political pivot as Ford eyes the governor’s mansion. Clark County Republican Party Chair Jill Douglass said that Ford:
“has been very clear with trying to create policy and help those who enter our country illegally.”
Ford’s about-face reveals he knows sanctuary policies are unpopular with Nevada voters. His weekend television denial contradicts not just his 2017 legislative sponsorship, but years of actions as Attorney General consistently opposing immigration enforcement and providing resources to help individuals avoid federal authorities.
Bottom Line
Ford’s CBS Las Vegas appearance has backfired spectacularly, drawing renewed attention to his extensive record supporting sanctuary policies while attempting to deny that very record. With his name literally on the 2017 sanctuary state bill and years of actions as Attorney General opposing immigration enforcement, Ford’s weekend TV claim represents a fundamental misrepresentation of his positions.
The swift PAC response with actual legislative documents demonstrates the political peril Ford faces in trying to rewrite his record. As he prepares to challenge Governor Lombardo, Ford’s CBS interview may have done more to highlight his contradictions than to clarify his positions for Nevada voters.
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.
