Meet the POLICE OFFICERS Blocking Trump’s ICE Raids

Las Vegas police chief Kevin McMahill stands firm against federal immigration raids, prioritizing local policing over national directives.

At a Glance

  • Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) refuses to assist in federal immigration raids
  • Sheriff McMahill emphasizes focus on local policing duties
  • LVMPD policy restricts cooperation with ICE to violent crime cases
  • Trump administration threatens legal action against non-cooperative departments
  • Critics argue non-cooperation endangers communities

LVMPD’s Stance on Immigration Enforcement

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, under Sheriff Kevin McMahill’s leadership, has taken a clear stance against participating in federal immigration enforcement operations.

Yes, police officers are actively blocking agents from enforcing the law.

The announcement aligns with a growing trend among police departments across the United States that are resisting President Trump’s immigration policies.

Sheriff McMahill has been unequivocal about the department’s role, stating, “That’s not my job; I have too much to do,” when asked about assisting in immigration raids.

Enforcing the law isn’t his job?

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 undocumented status.

Federal Push for Immigration Enforcement

The Trump administration has initiated what it calls “targeted enforcement operations,” essentially mass deportations carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

These operations follow Trump’s declaration of a National Emergency at the border and the removal of protections that previously limited immigration enforcement in sensitive areas.

“When you release a public safety threat back into the community, that puts the community at great risk of crime, and it puts our officers at great risk. Now, they’ve got to arrest the bad guy on his turf, where he has access to who knows what weapons, and it puts the public at risk,” Tom Homan, former Acting Director of ICE and current Border Czar, said.

Despite such criticisms, the LVMPD maintains its focus on community-oriented policing, aiming to build relationships with all community members regardless of their immigration status. The department’s policy allows for sharing criminal intelligence with ICE regarding transnational organized crime and international terrorism, but it stops short of active participation in immigration enforcement.

The federal government’s stance on non-cooperative police departments has been stern. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued a memo stating, “federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests.”

This memo signals potential legal challenges for departments like LVMPD that limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

However, Sheriff McMahill remains committed to the current policy. The LVMPD will notify ICE when foreign-born individuals are arrested for violent felonies, domestic violence, or DUI, but will not delay their release for ICE. This measured approach attempts to balance public safety concerns with the department’s community-oriented policing goals.

Now Trump needs to battle the cartels and our own police officers