Morais-Hechavarria v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

We filed a lawsuit challenging the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s (LVMPD) 287(g) agreement with ICE. That agreement allows ICE to use local law enforcement to assist in carrying out its federal immigration enforcement agenda.

In June 2025, LVMPD quietly entered into a 287(g) agreement with ICE, allowing ICE to use local law enforcement to execute civil immigration warrants and detain people beyond their scheduled release dates.

Nevada law does not allow state or local agencies to assist the federal government unless specifically authorized by the state legislature, and any detention of federal detainees must be fully reimbursed by the federal government. Under the 287(g) agreement, LVMPD has been holding individuals for ICE without reimbursement, forcing Nevada taxpayers to cover the costs.

The agreement not only violates state law but also obstructs Nevada’s courts and public safety. Our client was ordered by a Nevada district court judge to be transferred to an inpatient treatment facility. Despite the court order, ICE’s detainer has kept him in custody, preventing him from accessing court-ordered rehabilitation and trapping him in indefinite detention.

Federal agencies cannot misuse local officers, obstruct Nevada's judicial system, or drain taxpayer dollars, especially to carry out its federal immigration agenda.