Nevada Latino Caucus to return to bill to keep ICE out of schools

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo responds to a question on the Nevada Healthcare Access Act, his healthcare reform legislation, during a news conference at UNLV’s Kerkorian School of Medicine Thursday, May 15, 2025. Photo by: Steve Marcus

The Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus said it will revive a proposal vetoed this month by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo that would have prevented federal immigration agents from entering Nevada schools without a warrant.

Assembly Bill 217 was drafted out of concerns after President Donald Trump’s administration in January removed enforcement restrictions at “sensitive” locations such as schools, hospitals and churches. The caucus plans to push for the proposal when the Nevada Legislature meets again in 2027, it said during a news conference this week.

Assemblymember Selena Torres-Fossett, a teacher, said students and families frequently speak to her about the potential of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the community.

“Let’s be honest, (Lombardo’s) concern was the fact that it positively impacted immigrants,” Torres-Fossett, D-Las Vegas said.

With the veto, “he turned his back against Nevada immigrant students (and) Nevada immigrant families.”

Torres-Fossett called the bill a “straightforward protection” that had bipartisan support in both legislative chambers. State Sens. Ira Hansen, R-Sparks, and Lori Rogich, R-Las Vegas, as well as four Republican assemblymembers, joined a unified Democratic caucus on the votes.

Lombardo wrote in his veto message for AB 217 that it was “well-intentioned but fundamentally overbroad,” saying its too rigid and isn’t tied to when students will be in the school building.

“As written, it applies 24/7, effectively transforming school grounds into sanctuary zones at all times,” Lombardo wrote. “This extends far beyond the bill sponsor’s stated goal of ensuring that immigration concerns do not deter children from attending school.”

He also criticized the “burden placed on educators and staff” with AB 217. Lombardo wrote that the legislation “imposes disciplinary consequences for any misstep,” but the bill does leave that for the school or district to decide.

Torres-Fossett said the caucus gave the governor an opportunity to share concerns and incorporated some of the changes.

Lombardo’s office did not respond to a request for comment on AB 217 and the Nevada Latino Caucus’ press conference Tuesday.

The Clark County School District says it has a practice of keeping student and family immigration status information confidential, sharing it only with authorities who have a warrant or if parents had given their approval. CCSD grants ICE agents access to school grounds only by warrant or under exigent circumstances.

“The Clark County School District’s position on every student’s access to a free and appropriate public education remains unchanged,” the district said in a statement to the Sun last week. “We are committed to ensuring every student seeking a public education in Clark County receives one.”

Assemblymember Cecelia González, D-Las Vegas, told the Sun that Lombardo’s veto was largely political, criticizing the governor for choosing to cozy up with the Trump administration.

The bill did not say federal immigration agents couldn’t approach a school without a warrant, González said. AB 217’s language barred ICE officers from “engaging in the investigation or enforcement of immigration laws” on school grounds without the permissions laid out in the bill.

That “tells me that you did not even read it,” the assemblymember said. “You did not take the time to do your due diligence even though I continuously met with his office (and) we continuously met with Republicans.”

As for concerns about creating a 24/7 “sanctuary zone,” González asked why that issue wasn’t brought up earlier when she met with the governor’s office. She also said the idea of a person hiding in a school after hours is bluster coming from the Trump administration.

Other vetoes that angered the Latino caucus were for legislation capping rent increases for seniors, one dealing with air quality and heat issues for workers, and another raising the age to own certain semiautomatic guns to 21.

Lombardo also shot down legislation honoring Latina labor leader Dolores Huerta with a day of observance each April, though he vetoed a handful of similar bills and directed their sponsors to instead apply for a proclamation through his office.

The bills “were rooted in community need, safety and dignity. The governor chose political theater over the safety and well-being of Nevada’s working families,” Torres-Fossett said Tuesday. “We will continue to fight. We will bring these back.”