Week of Aug. 7, 2025

From the editor’s desk

The Department of Justice, in a press release on Tuesday, deemed 36 areas, including 13 states, “sanctuary jurisdictions”—places the DOJ defines as “having policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.”

Nevada is among them.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is quoted in the press release saying that these cities, states and counties have immigration policies that “put American citizens at risk by design.”

Acting ICE director Todd Lyons told Fox News that sanctuary jurisdictions make it “safe for criminal, illegal aliens to roam our neighborhoods.”

So, what does this mean in Nevada, you may wonder? Excellent question. Even though several news outlets did their due diligence looking into the matter, no one seems to know why Nevada landed on this list. From the Reno Gazette Journal: “It’s not clear what actions caused Nevada to be included.”

From Channel 3 News in Las Vegas: 

The Justice Department website includes a list of criteria to meet the definition of “sanctuary jurisdiction,” such as limits on immigration detainers or funding restrictions, but it does not specify how Nevada meets those characteristics.

Our politicians are voicing strong, bipartisan opposition. From The Nevada Independent:

In a statement, Rep. Dina Titus (D-Las Vegas) called the designation “bogus.” Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s (D-NV) office said in a statement that “Nevada is not a sanctuary state, and this designation is wrong.”

Here’s what the Reno Gazette Journal learned when it checked in with the governor’s office:

“Despite the attorney general’s attempts to implement sanctuary policies, Nevada is not a sanctuary state and will never be a sanctuary jurisdiction under Gov. Lombardo,” spokesperson Elizabeth Ray said in a statement sent to the RGJ.

OK, now that we live in a “sanctuary state” but we’re not sure why, what might happen here? The clues coming from ICE and the DOJ are pretty unsettling.

In the Fox News video, Lyons announced ICE’s intentions to “flood the zone”—to send additional ICE officers into the newly deemed “sanctuary” regions. The Nevada Independent pointed out: 

The designation could have massive implications in Nevada, which has one of the highest shares of undocumented people in the nation. A recent executive order directed the Justice Department to “identify appropriate Federal funds to sanctuary jurisdictions, including grants and contracts, for suspension or termination.” 

Said Bondi:

The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.

What harmful policies, though? If you know of one, on the record, in any Nevada city or county, please send it my way. Meanwhile, this looks like another attempt by the Trump administration to sow maximum confusion, chaos and fear among immigrants.

Take care,

—Kris Vagner, managing editor