The Stakes
Nevada has the highest per-capita undocumented workforce in the country—roughly 9% of all workers—and immigrants account for one in five residents while contributing an estimated $20.2 billion annually to the state economy.[1]Immigration enforcement systems analysis
Enforcement is federally controlled, but local discretion matters: four Nevada agencies now have 287(g) agreements, ICE detentions have surged 80% since December 2024, and every jurisdiction decides whether to honor detainer requests or cooperate with ICE—a fracturing of policy that will define the 2026 race.[1]Report details on agreements and litigation
Where They Stand
Aaron Ford
Democrat · Attorney General
Position
Argues immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, publishes nonbinding "model policies" discouraging unpaid civil cooperation, and insists he does not support sanctuary policies.[2]Candidate immigration analysis
Key Actions
- • Released a 72-page policy packet for law enforcement, schools, and hospitals
- • Sued the DOJ over VOCA funding tied to immigration enforcement and defended DACA recipients nationally
- • Publishes Know Your Rights resources while opposing local Detention center expansion
The Tension
Labels himself a constitutional guardian yet courts criticize his model policies as insufficiently binding for jurisdictions under pressure from ICE and the DOJ.
Alexis Hill
Democrat · Washoe County Commissioner
Position
Supports federal responsibility for border security, opposes National Guard roundups, champions due process, and wants "fair pathways to citizenship" instead of state-run detention centers.[2]Candidate immigration analysis
Key Actions
- • Declared border security a congressional responsibility and opposes state detention facilities.
- • Advocates comprehensive reform, due process, and humane treatment in partnership with federal agencies.
- • Condemns National Guard deployment for immigration roundups and focuses on local community trust.
The Tension
Less documented than the two frontrunners, so her expansive reform language has not yet translated into votes or litigation records.
Need more context?
Read the full immigration systems deep dive: enforcement, economy, and litigation.