URGENT UPDATE: The ACLU of Nevada has just announced a major legal escalation against the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). This follows the shocking revelation that LVMPD transferred client Sergio Morais-Hechavarria to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on October 16, 2023, immediately after the ACLU filed a lawsuit on his behalf.
This alarming action, according to the ACLU, blatantly defies a Nevada district court order and undermines the essential separation of powers within state governance. The ACLU asserts that this incident exemplifies a serious breach of legal protocols by LVMPD, raising significant concerns about due process rights in Nevada.
In a statement to the media, Athar Haseebullah, executive director of ACLU Nevada, condemned the police’s actions as “egregious,” emphasizing that the transfer occurred right after legal proceedings had commenced. He stated, “LVMPD releasing Mr. Morais-Hechavarria into ICE custody immediately after we filed a legal challenge to their unlawful cooperation with ICE is deeply troubling.”
The ACLU’s legal challenge scrutinizes the controversial agreement between LVMPD and ICE, which allegedly allows local police to act as federal immigration enforcers without explicit legislative consent. This arrangement, the ACLU argues, infringes upon Morais-Hechavarria’s civil rights and erodes the checks and balances vital to Nevada’s legal framework.
The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. Reports indicate that Morais-Hechavarria was not only removed from the Clark County Detention Center but that his attorney, Sadmira Ramic, was not informed of his transfer to the El Paso Service Processing Center. This omission raises serious questions about due process and the ethical obligations of law enforcement.
Officials from LVMPD, bound by the ongoing lawsuit, have refrained from detailed comments. However, a spokesperson confirmed that Morais-Hechavarria is no longer within their jurisdiction, leaving many unanswered questions about the legality of his transfer.
This incident has sparked a broader debate around the cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies. Critics argue that such practices represent a dangerous overreach of federal power and threaten the civil liberties of all Nevadans.
As the ACLU continues to push back against what they describe as federal overreach, the implications of this case could resonate far beyond Nevada, impacting the legal landscape for immigration enforcement across the nation.
What’s Next: The ACLU is expected to pursue swift legal actions to challenge this transfer and uphold the rights of Morais-Hechavarria. Observers are urged to follow this developing story closely, as it not only concerns the rights of individual citizens but also addresses significant issues regarding state versus federal powers in law enforcement.
Stay tuned for further updates on this critical legal battle as it unfolds.
