Following President Trump's recent actions to strengthen immigration enforcement, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Sheriff Kevin McMahill reiterated the department's policy of restricting collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The LVMPD emphasized on Tuesday that its officers do not actively pursue immigration violations, a stance established in 2019 during the Trump administration and revised in 2023.

The policy underscores that LVMPD officers, while empowered to assist with federal law enforcement, will not enforce immigration laws. They are instructed not to stop, question, detain, or arrest individuals solely on the basis of suspected undocumented status. The department emphasizes its commitment to respecting the dignity of all individuals, regardless of immigration status, and promoting community-oriented policing that prioritizes building relationships with community members.

While the LVMPD will share intelligence related to transnational organized crime and international terrorism with agencies like ICE, and will notify ICE upon the arrest of a foreign-born individual for violent felonies, domestic violence, or DUI, the department will not hold inmates for ICE beyond their scheduled release.

In a recent interview, Sheriff McMahill stated that his officers would not participate in ICE “roundups” of undocumented immigrants, citing his focus on other pressing responsibilities and expressing hope for a bipartisan solution to border security.

ICE has previously argued that law enforcement agencies that decline to honor immigration detainers create safety risks for agents and the public by necessitating arrests in potentially volatile public settings. Former ICE Director Tom Homan has also strongly criticized officials who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, arguing that releasing individuals who pose a public safety threat endangers communities and law enforcement officers. Homan advocates for cooperation within jails, which he considers a safer environment for all involved.

Homan further contends that enhanced border security is essential to reducing human trafficking and protecting vulnerable individuals. He warns that sanctuary city policies may inadvertently lead to increased ICE presence in communities and a higher number of arrests.