The ACLU of Nevada has filed a lawsuit against the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) over concerns that the DMV may be collaborating with federal immigration authorities, specifically U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This action follows the ACLU’s public records requests, which were initially denied, and later resulted in the release of heavily redacted documents, suggesting potential cooperation between the two agencies.
Athar Haseebullah, the ACLU of Nevada’s director, highlighted that some records imply the existence of Signal group chats between ICE and DMV employees, though this is not confirmed. Signal is known for its secure, encrypted messaging capabilities. The ACLU is concerned that the DMV might be sharing personal information, which could violate state laws designed to protect such data from being used for immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit aims to obtain all communications between ICE and the DMV, including any Signal chats, and calls for an independent investigation. The ACLU also seeks a court order declaring that the DMV violated the Nevada Public Records Act and demands civil penalties.
This legal action comes in a broader context of Nevada being labeled a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants by the Trump administration, and follows an agreement between the Metropolitan Police Department and ICE to hold inmates for extra time at the federal agency’s request.
Local officials, like Assemblymember Cecelia González, have expressed concerns about transparency and accountability, emphasizing the need for government operations to be open and transparent to maintain public trust. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for how state agencies cooperate with federal immigration authorities and handle public records.