LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The U.S. Department of Justice has listed Nevada among 13 states it considers “sanctuary jurisdictions,” citing a federal executive order that criticizes local officials for allegedly obstructing immigration enforcement.
In a release from the Justice Department, Nevada was listed as one of 13 states classified as sanctuary jurisdictions. The release cites Executive Order 14287, which it said acknowledged that “some state and local officials … continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
Nevada joined California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington on the list. Cities and counties were also included. These featured Albuquerque, New Mexico; Berkeley, California; Boston; Chicago; Denver; East Lansing, Michigan; Hoboken, New Jersey; Jersey City, New Jersey; Los Angeles; New Orleans; New York; Newark, New Jersey; Paterson, New Jersey; Philadelphia; Portland, Oregon; Rochester, New York; Seattle; San Francisco; Baltimore County, Maryland; Cook County, Illinois; San Diego County, California; and San Francisco County, California.
In May, the city of Las Vegas was named a sanctuary city by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. At the time, Gov. Joe Lombardo and officials from the city of Las Vegas both denied that the city was a sanctuary jurisdiction. Lombardo directly stated that the state did not qualify for the classification either.
“The state of Nevada is not a sanctuary state,” Lombardo said in May.
The release concludes that the federal government aims to “assist any jurisdiction that desires to be taken off this list to identify and eliminate their sanctuary policies, so they no longer stand in opposition to federal immigration enforcement.”
When questioned about the Silver State’s status as a sanctuary jurisdiction in the eyes of the Justice Department, a representative pointed to a list of criteria for inclusion. Characteristics included public declarations; laws, ordinances and executive directives; restrictions on information sharing; funding restrictions; noncooperation with federal immigration enforcement; limits on ICE detainers; jail access restrictions; immigrant community affairs offices; and federal benefit programs.
FOX5 reached out to Lombardo’s office for comment on the newest development. This story will be updated.
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