Hearing Friday in Lawsuit Over Secret Communications Between the Nevada DMV and ICE

LAS VEGAS – The ACLU of Nevada and the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will go to court Friday after the DMV failed to comply with public records requests seeking information about the agency’s coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The court will hear oral arguments on whether the DMV must disclose additional records, including communications with ICE, and whether the agency’s actions violated Nevada public records law.

The case is ACLU of Nevada v. Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, Case No. 25 EW 00026 1B.

ACLU of Nevada executive director Athar Haseebullah said:

“When a government agency is communicating with ICE in secret, the stakes are not theoretical. These communications have real and immediate consequences for immigrant families and entire communities across Nevada. Nevadans have a right to know when state agencies may be facilitating immigration enforcement and whether that cooperation complies with the law. Transparency is essential when government actions carry the power to disrupt families, destabilize communities, and permanently alter people’s lives. Secrecy in this context is not harmless. It erodes trust and puts real people at risk.”

WHAT:
Court hearing in ACLU of Nevada’s lawsuit seeking records from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles related to its communications with ICE.

WHEN:
Friday, February 6, 2026
9:30 a.m.

WHERE:
First Judicial District Court, Department II (Judge Kristin Luis)
885 E. Musser St., Third Floor
Carson City, NV 89701

Information about media access and requests can be found here.

ACLU of Nevada submitted public records requests to the Nevada DMV seeking any records related to its coordination with ICE. For months, the DMV refused to turn over any documents, and only after sending a formal demand letter did the agency provide a limited number of heavily redacted and incomplete records. The records produced missed entire email chains and other referenced communications. Despite the redactions, the records revealed undisclosed cooperation with ICE, including requests for personal data such as address and vehicle registration information. The records also indicated the DMV may have communicated with ICE via Signal, an encrypted messaging app with auto-delete features and no recovery mechanism. Entire email chains and other referenced communications were missing.

ACLU of Nevada is seeking a court order demanding the release of all requested records in compliance with Nevada law. Nevadans have a right to know the extent to which their government is cooperating with ICE, and the DMV has a legal duty to be transparent with the public.