Ford’s Sanctuary State Bill Would Have Gutted Emergency Services
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford (D), now running for governor, once pushed legislation that would have stripped $23 million in federal funding from critical state safety services – including emergency management and disaster response capabilities.
The Real Cost to Public Safety
The numbers paint a stark picture of what Ford’s 2017 sanctuary state bill would have cost Nevada.
The Department of Safety faced losing $14.5 million across two critical subagencies. Most alarming was the Division of Emergency Management, which would have lost 29 out of 33 full-time positions.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department would have seen $8.5 million in federal funds vanish, while multiple smaller agencies and programs faced cuts to vital services.
Emergency Management Crisis
The devastating impact on emergency response capabilities would have crippled Nevada’s ability to handle disasters. With the Division of Emergency Management losing nearly 90% of its staff, the state would have struggled to coordinate emergency responses across its vast territory.
The cuts would have severely limited the ability to manage multiple emergencies at once, while reducing crucial training and preparation for response teams. Basic communication systems during critical events would have been compromised.
Federal Funding at Risk
The funding cuts were triggered by President Trump’s 2017 executive order barring federal funds from sanctuary states.
Ford’s bill directly challenged this order, putting millions in public safety dollars at risk. The fiscal notes accompanying the legislation spelled out these consequences clearly, yet Ford pushed forward with the proposal.
The loss would have hit emergency response training, equipment maintenance, and vital communication infrastructure.
Impact on Law Enforcement
Beyond emergency management, the bill would have dealt a serious blow to law enforcement capabilities. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s potential $8.5 million loss would have affected everything from community policing programs to special operations units.
Basic training, equipment updates and public safety technology would all have faced cuts.
A Dramatic Reversal
Just a month after launching his gubernatorial bid, Attorney General Aaron Ford dramatically reversed his position on immigration enforcement. After sponsoring legislation in 2017 that would have made Nevada a sanctuary state, Ford now claims to support President Trump’s deportation policies of violent criminals and says he opposes sanctuary state status.
This reversal becomes even more striking as Nevada’s entire Democratic congressional delegation – Representatives Susie Lee, Steven Horsford, and Dina Titus – recently voted for the Laken Riley Act, requiring ICE to take custody of undocumented immigrants who commit theft-related crimes.
Duty vs. Actions
As Nevada’s current Attorney General, Ford is tasked with protecting public safety and defending state interests. His office regularly coordinates with emergency services and law enforcement during disasters and crises.
Yet his sanctuary state bill would have undermined the very emergency response system he now relies on to do his job.
When wildfires threaten Nevada communities or when disasters strike, the Attorney General’s office works directly with the emergency management personnel whose positions his bill would have eliminated. The contradiction between Ford’s past political stance and his current duties raises serious questions about his judgment on public safety matters.
A Question of Leadership
As Ford seeks Nevada’s highest office, voters face a stark choice.
His sanctuary state bill would have cost Nevada $23 million in federal funds, gutting emergency services by eliminating 29 of 33 positions in the Division of Emergency Management and stripping $8.5 million from Las Vegas law enforcement.
After pushing legislation that would have devastated public safety resources, Ford now claims to oppose sanctuary state policies – a convenient reversal that comes just as he launches his campaign for governor and his fellow Democrats support stronger immigration enforcement through the Laken Riley Act.
The question for voters is simple: Can they trust someone who was willing to sacrifice emergency response capabilities and millions in public safety dollars for a political position he no longer claims to hold?
Nevada’s next governor will be responsible for maintaining the emergency services and law enforcement funding that keep communities safe. Ford still hasn’t explained why he once thought defying immigration law was worth putting Nevada’s critical safety resources at risk.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
