Aaron Ford’s Immigration Policies: A Sanctuary State Trojan Horse?

CARSON CITY, NV — Attorney General Aaron Ford wants Nevadans to believe his newly released Model Immigration Policies are about “public safety” and “fairness.” But peel back the layers of progressive rhetoric, and what emerges is a blueprint that conservatives will recognize as a thinly veiled attempt to turn Nevada into a sanctuary state—despite Ford’s protests to the contrary. Released on February 24, 2025, under the mandate of NRS 228.206 and 228.208, these policies aim to choke off cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in public schools, healthcare facilities, courthouses, and—most alarmingly—law enforcement agencies. We’ve dug into the 72-page document, and the red flags are glaring.

Ford claims this isn’t about sanctuary policies. “Period,” he insists. Yet the Nevada GOP has a sharper memory, reminding us that Ford sponsored a 2017 bill to make Nevada a sanctuary state. History doesn’t bend to political spin, and neither should Nevadans. Here’s why conservatives—and anyone who values law, order, and sovereignty—should be up in arms.

Handcuffing Law Enforcement

At the heart of Ford’s policies is a direct assault on law enforcement autonomy. Nevada’s sheriffs and police are told they “will not act as unpaid federal immigration agents” (Page 12) and are barred from asking about citizenship unless it’s tied to a criminal probe (Page 14). Want to assist ICE with a civil detainer? Forget it—unless it’s a judicial warrant signed by a judge, officers must stand down (Page 17). Even then, they’re bogged down with bureaucratic hoops: consult supervisors, call legal counsel, and triple-check every move (Page 16). This isn’t efficiency; it’s paralysis.

For conservatives who see police as the thin blue line against chaos, this is sacrilege. Ford’s rules strip officers of discretion, turning them into paper-pushers while illegal immigrants—yes, lawbreakers—walk free. Governor Joe Lombardo, a former sheriff himself, has already signaled that Nevada will stick to federal law, not Ford’s optional playbook. So why is the AG pushing this agenda? The NVGOP smells political ambition, and they’re not wrong.

A Sanctuary Loophole for Criminals

Ford swears these policies don’t shield criminals (Page 5). But read the fine print: law enforcement can only notify ICE of a detainee’s release in narrow cases—violent crimes, illegal reentry, or terrorism (Page 17). What about the shoplifter, the drunk driver, or the domestic abuser who doesn’t quite hit Ford’s “serious bodily injury” threshold (Page 15)? They’re back on Nevada’s streets, no questions asked, no ICE alert sent. Conservatives know that illegal presence is itself a crime—why are we coddling anyone who’s already broken our laws?

This selective enforcement reeks of the sanctuary policies Ford claims to disavow. Worse, it risks public safety. When victims and witnesses fear deportation, Ford argues, they won’t report crimes (Page 11). Fair enough—but when police can’t detain deportable offenders, criminals stay among us. Which is the bigger threat to Nevadans?

Taxpayer Dollars Down the Drain

Ford pitches this as fiscal prudence, arguing that Nevada shouldn’t foot the bill for federal immigration duties (Page 4). Noble in theory, but the reality? These policies mandate annual training, designated supervisors, and legal reviews for every immigration-related request (Pages 13-14). That’s not saving money—that’s a new taxpayer-funded bureaucracy to avoid helping ICE. Meanwhile, illegal immigration strains our schools, hospitals, and jails—costs conservatives know hit Nevada hard. If Ford really cared about our wallets, he’d let ICE do its job, not build a wall of red tape around it.

Progressive Dogma Over Nevada Values

The policies drip with progressive buzzwords: “trauma-informed,” “victim-centered,” “cultural sensitivity” (Pages 11-12). Ford’s team cozied up with the Nevada Immigrant Coalition and the Keep Nevada Working Task Force—left-leaning outfits—to craft this (Page 3). The result? A focus on noncitizens’ fears of deportation over citizens’ right to safety (Page 18). Call it woke, call it pandering—it’s not Nevada tough. Conservatives will see this as Ford using his office to score points with the progressive elite, not to protect the taxpayers who elected him.

A Clash with Lombardo—and Sovereignty

Governor Lombardo’s stance is clear: Nevada follows federal law, and Ford’s policies are non-binding. Yet Ford’s document pressures entities to adopt his vision or justify defiance to his office (Page 6). That’s not a suggestion—it’s a power play from a Democrat AG against a GOP governor. And here’s the kicker: while Ford limits enforcement, he still bows to federal info-sharing laws like 8 U.S.C. § 1373 (Page 15). So much for state sovereignty—he’s neither fully resisting Washington nor fully backing it, leaving Nevada in a limp-wristed limbo.

The Bottom Line

Ford’s Model Immigration Policies aren’t just recommendations—they’re a Trojan horse for sanctuary ideals, dressed up as fairness and fiscal wisdom. They tie law enforcement’s hands, let lesser offenders roam free, burn taxpayer dollars, and push a progressive agenda that clashes with Nevada’s conservative backbone. The NVGOP is right: Ford can’t rewrite his sanctuary past, and he shouldn’t be rewriting our future.

Nevadans deserve better than an Attorney General who prioritizes political posturing over public safety. Governor Lombardo should toss this playbook in the trash where it belongs—and conservatives should demand accountability before Ford’s vision turns Nevada into California North. The border isn’t just down south; it’s right here in Carson City, and it’s time we defended it.

Ford’s Model Immigration Policies:

https://ag.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/agnvgov/Content/Issues/OAG%20Model%20Immigration%20Policies%20-%202.24.25.pdf

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