New NYPD Policies: How Immigrant Rights Are Being Bolstered in NYC

Police officers with riot gear and shields.

Police refuse to assist in federal immigration raids, sparking debate on local law enforcement’s role in immigration policy.

Quick Takes

  • Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) will not participate in federal immigration “roundups”
  • LVMPD policy prohibits investigating immigration violations
  • Sheriff McMahill emphasizes community-oriented policing over immigration enforcement
  • ICE criticizes non-cooperation, citing public safety concerns
  • Trump administration threatens legal action against uncooperative local agencies

Las Vegas Police Refuse to Assist in Immigration Raids

In a bold stance against federal immigration policies, Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) has declared that his officers will not assist federal authorities with illegal immigrant “roundups.” This decision aligns with a growing trend of local law enforcement agencies across the United States resisting President Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.

The LVMPD’s policy, first instituted in 2019 and amended in 2023, explicitly prohibits officers from investigating immigration violations or detaining individuals solely based on their immigration status. Sheriff McMahill emphasized the department’s focus on community-oriented policing, stating their goal is to build relationships with all community members, regardless of immigration status.

Balancing Community Trust and Federal Cooperation

While the LVMPD maintains its stance on not enforcing immigration laws, the department does share criminal intelligence with law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They also notify ICE when foreign-born individuals are arrested for certain serious crimes. However, the department will not delay the release of an inmate for ICE and will release a migrant if ICE is not present at the time of release.

This approach has drawn criticism from ICE and supporters of stricter immigration enforcement. They argue that non-cooperation endangers communities and agents, making it more challenging to apprehend potentially dangerous individuals.

Nationwide Resistance to Federal Immigration Policies

Las Vegas is not alone in its stance. Police departments in Chicago, Omaha, and Stockton have also stated they will not assist in immigration enforcement without a reported crime. This resistance comes as the Trump administration initiates mass deportations, with ICE conducting “targeted enforcement operations” across the country.

The Trump administration has declared a national emergency at the border and removed protections limiting immigration enforcement in sensitive areas. This has led to increased tension between federal and local authorities, with the administration threatening to investigate and prosecute local efforts that impede its immigration policies, citing federal law prohibiting obstruction of lawful immigration commands.

Implications for Immigration Enforcement

The refusal of local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration efforts poses significant challenges for the implementation of mass deportation operations. Federal authorities rely heavily on cooperation from state and local law enforcement for such operations, and the lack of support can increase costs and complicate procedures. This standoff between local and federal authorities highlights the ongoing debate over the role of local law enforcement in immigration policy and the balance between community trust and national security concerns.

Sources:

NYPD to Cops: Your Job Is Not to Help ICE

‘Not my job’: Sheriff vows Las Vegas Police will not assist with Trump’s illegal immigration ’roundups’

Trump’s immigration crackdown met with defiance from local police