ACLU Appeals Dismissal of Lawsuit Over Metro's ICE Agreement

Nevada's ACLU challenges Metro's 287(g) program that allows cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:55am

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A cinematic painting of the exterior of a detention center, with warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a contemplative mood about the intersection of local law enforcement and federal immigration policy.The ACLU's appeal aims to determine the legal boundaries of local police involvement in federal immigration enforcement, raising questions about the appropriate role of law enforcement in immigration matters.Las Vegas Today

The ACLU of Nevada is appealing to the state's Supreme Court after its lawsuit challenging the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's (Metro) 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was dismissed on procedural grounds earlier this year. The ACLU argues that Nevada law does not give Metro the authority to carry out the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to assist with federal immigration enforcement.

Why it matters

The 287(g) program has been a controversial issue, with critics arguing it blurs the lines between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The ACLU's appeal seeks to determine the legality of such agreements under Nevada state law, which could have implications for similar programs in other Dillon's Rule states.

The details

Under the 287(g) program, when someone is booked into the Clark County Detention Center and identified as foreign-born, Metro sends a notification to ICE. Metro currently has 25 officers trained to serve ICE warrants within the jail. As of this week, 372 detainers have been served to foreign-born inmates, with 315 actually being picked up by ICE.

  • The ACLU lawsuit was dismissed earlier this year on procedural grounds.
  • The ACLU is now appealing the dismissal to the Nevada Supreme Court.

The players

ACLU of Nevada

A civil liberties organization that filed the lawsuit challenging Metro's 287(g) agreement with ICE.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (Metro)

The local law enforcement agency that has a 287(g) agreement with ICE, allowing it to assist with federal immigration enforcement.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that partners with local law enforcement through the 287(g) program to enforce immigration laws.

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What they’re saying

“In this instance, the entrance into a cooperation agreement with federal immigration officials of this nature is not a responsibility that has been delegated to Metro or any other police agency or municipal government under state law.”

— Athar Haseebullah, Executive Director, ACLU of Nevada

“Local governments don't simply get to go around that and subvert that. And that's really the basis of the challenge.”

— Athar Haseebullah, Executive Director, ACLU of Nevada

“There is no collaboration. The only officers for Metro that are certified to serve these warrants from ICE are corrections staff.”

— Sergeant Karina De Lara, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

What’s next

The Nevada Supreme Court will now consider the ACLU's appeal and determine whether Metro's 287(g) agreement with ICE is legal under state law.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over the role of local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement, and the legal questions around the extent of authority granted to municipalities under state law. The outcome of the ACLU's appeal could have broader implications for similar programs in other Dillon's Rule states.