On June 16, Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt signed a federal court brief opposing sanctuary cities. In a press release, Laxalt slammed California municipalities that “refuse federal requests to temporarily detain illegal aliens with violent criminal histories,” and complained that “sanctuary cities in California endanger Nevadans.” The press release gave no evidence to back up this rather strong allegation.

At the end of March, Sen. Yvanna Cancela’s proposal to regulate the involvement of Nevada police in federal immigration enforcement died in the Nevada Senate, unable to overcome opposition from the largest police departments in the state. The reason for this opposition was that the bill, SB223, would have been a form of sanctuary legislation. But was it, actually?

The Henderson Detention Center’s contract to house detainees for Immigration and Customs Enforcement generates $9 million to $10 million per year, a moneymaker city officials steadfastly defend as essential to offsetting costs and bolstering coffers.

Nevada will continue to be ground zero in the immigration debate, potentially for the next two election cycles. Nevada voters may get to choose in the 2018 election whether to amend the state constitution to ban sanctuary cities. Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson is leading the charge and announced last week the creation of Prevent Sanctuary Cities, a political action committee to pursue a ballot question that would prevent Nevada from allowing sanctuary cities.

It seemed like a simple idea: provide Nevada immigrants with a modicum of security in an uncertain time by preventing law enforcement from engaging in certain federal immigration activities that they’ve said they have no interest in doing.

A controversial immigration bill that would have codified certain law enforcement policies in state law, initially referred to as a “sanctuary state” bill, will not move forward in its current form, the primary sponsor said Tuesday.

In February, President Trump issued an executive order expanding categories for deporting people who are in the U.S. illegally.

An unmarked white van pulled up to Astrid Silva’s home last week. The driver approached with a box and asked for her by name. She asked what the box contained. “Flowers,” he said.