County Fight
Litigation
Clark County NV — ACLU challenges LVMPD 287(g), appeal to state Supreme Court
Clark, NV
FIPS 32003
Current status: District court dismissed on mootness (plaintiff deported); ACLU appealed to Nevada Supreme Court in April 2026. No ruling on merits yet.
The Fight
The ACLU of Nevada sued LVMPD in October 2025, arguing that the department’s 287(g) agreement with ICE — signed by Sheriff Kevin McMahill in June 2025 — violates Nevada state law. The ACLU contends that Nevada law (AB376) does not give local law enforcement authority to enter 287(g) cooperation agreements with DHS. The suit seeks to block Metro from holding inmates beyond their release date for ICE pickup.
Key Details
Timeline:
- June 16, 2025: LVMPD signs 287(g) WSO agreement with ICE
- October 2025: ACLU of Nevada files lawsuit
- December 2025: 287(g) becomes operationally active; ICE begins taking custody of CCDC inmates
- March 6, 2026: Clark County Judge Monica Trujillo dismisses on procedural grounds — plaintiff Sergio Morais-Hechavarria deported during litigation, rendering case “moot”
- April 9, 2026: ACLU files notice of appeal to Nevada Supreme Court
- ACLU alleges LVMPD ignored an underlying court order and transferred a detainee to ICE custody during the case
Impact so far:
- Since December 2025, ICE has taken at least 240 people into custody through the 287(g) agreement
- ACLU executive director Athar Haseebullah called the ruling the court “effectively washing its hands”
- The case could set precedent for all Nevada 287(g) agreements — at least three other jurisdictions (Douglas, Mineral, Lyon counties) have entered agreements
Key legal question: Does AB376 prohibit Nevada local agencies from signing 287(g) agreements? The district court never reached this merits question. The Nevada Supreme Court appeal could resolve it.
Sources
This research is published at The RAMM — investigative reporting on the detention pipeline.