Nevada’s largest school districts require warrants for ICE campus access as families face back-to-school fears
Nevada’s two largest school districts have confirmed that federal immigration officers must obtain judicial warrants before entering school campuses, as immigrant families express growing concerns about safety during the new school year.
Clark County School District takes firm stance
CCSD Superintendent Jhone Ebert stated unequivocally that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “will not be allowed onto campuses unless they have a warrant.” The district, which serves Las Vegas and surrounding areas, has implemented comprehensive protocols to protect students regardless of immigration status.
“All of our principals have been trained and understand they are to call the CCSD Police as well as our counsel, so that we do have processes in place,” Ebert explained in an April interview with News 3.
According to district officials, CCSD does not check any student’s immigration status and is not responsible for enforcing federal immigration law. The district has policies preventing law enforcement and immigration officials from accessing schools or students’ records without administrators, school police, and legal counsel first verifying their identity and confirming they have a valid warrant or court order.
Washoe County echoes protective policies
The Washoe County School District, serving the Reno-Sparks area in Northern Nevada, has adopted similar measures to ensure student safety. The district emphasized its commitment to making all students feel secure regardless of their immigration background.
“In alignment with our district’s strategic plan and all state and federal laws, the district has adopted legal procedures and processes to protect all students to ensure we meet our goal of ‘safety and belonging,'” WCSD stated in an official release.
Understanding warrant requirements
The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada clarified important distinctions about immigration enforcement at schools. While ICE agents can enter school lobbies, they cannot proceed further into private areas without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.
“The warrant must be a ‘judicial warrant’ for an arrest or a search of the premises, which is signed and issued by a judge,” the ACLU emphasized. “Immigration officials are not allowed to use an ‘administrative warrant’ to enter any private spaces.”
This distinction is crucial, as administrative warrants are issued by ICE itself and do not carry the same legal authority as judicial warrants issued by courts.
Federal policy changes increase concerns
These local protections have taken on heightened importance after the Trump administration rescinded previous policies that designated schools as “sensitive locations” where immigration enforcement was discouraged. The policy change in January 2025 allows federal immigration agencies to conduct enforcement activities at schools, churches, and hospitals.
Despite the federal shift, Nevada school districts maintain that warrants are still required for campus access, whether or not the sensitive location policy is in effect.
Legislative efforts face setback
The Nevada Legislature attempted to strengthen these protections through Assembly Bill 217, introduced by Las Vegas Democratic Assemblymember Cecelia González. The bill would have made it a misdemeanor for school districts or employees to share student information with ICE without a court order or warrant.
Despite receiving bipartisan support in both chambers, Governor Joe Lombardo vetoed the legislation in June, stating it was “well-intentioned but fundamentally overbroad” and would effectively transform “school grounds into sanctuary zones at all times.”
Federal assurances amid community fears
In August, CCSD Superintendent Ebert revealed she had received assurances from federal officials, including Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol, that they would not conduct immigration enforcement activities at local school sites.
“They can do their business elsewhere in our community, but as far as they’ve indicated today, not going to be doing any of their business in our schools,” Ebert said. “They understand our job is to educate all pre-K-12 children here in Southern Nevada.”
Impact on Nevada families
Nevada has the highest percentage of households with undocumented immigrants in the nation, with 8.8% of households having at least one undocumented member as of 2022, according to the Pew Research Center. Additionally, 13.9% of Nevada schoolchildren have at least one undocumented parent—also the nation’s highest rate.
The Nevada Immigrant Coalition has urged families to know their rights and create family preparedness plans. Despite fears, the organization emphasizes that all children have a constitutional right to public education regardless of immigration status.
Schools prepare for uncertainty
As the 2025-26 school year begins, both major Nevada school districts have trained staff on protocols if immigration agents arrive on campus. The procedures include:
- Verifying agent identity and credentials
- Requesting to see warrants or court orders
- Contacting district legal counsel and school police
- Moving agents away from public view to avoid spreading fear
- Protecting student privacy and educational records under federal law
Moving forward
While federal immigration policies continue to evolve, Nevada’s largest school districts remain committed to providing safe educational environments for all students. The message from education leaders is clear: schools should be places of learning, not enforcement.
“Our staff is all well aware of what is transpiring across this nation and they are prepared to work with their children, their families, their community to make sure that they’re all safe,” Superintendent Ebert affirmed.
Image Sources: https://news3lv.com/news/local/nevada-bill-aims-to-block-ice-access-to-students-families-on-public-school-campuses
Category: State News, Education
Subcategory: School Safety & Policy
Date: 08/12/2025
