FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Hector Fong | [email protected] 

Bethany Khan | [email protected] 

The Nevada Immigrant Coalition applauds Congressman Steven Horsford’s oversight visit to the Nevada Southern Detention Center and urges more members of Nevada’s federal delegation to join

Las Vegas, NV – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) visited the Nevada Southern Detention Center (NSDC) in Pahrump on August 19, three weeks after being initially denied entry, to exercise his duty of Congressional oversight. 

In firsthand conversations with nine detainees, Congressman Horsford heard troubling reports that “medical treatment can take weeks, detainees do not have reliable access to immigration attorneys or resources, and many have been moved across state lines in the dead of night without advanced notice or understanding of where they were going.”

After his visit, Congressman Horsford sent a letter to House Appropriations Chair Mark Amodei (NV-02) to investigate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) noncompliance with Congressional Oversight.

The Nevada Immigrant Coalition has released the following statement:

“The Nevada Immigrant Coalition applauds Congressman Steven Horsford for being persistent in his congressional oversight and urges the rest of the Nevada federal delegation to join him in conducting impromptu oversight visits, while being mindful that what elected leaders may be shown during a scheduled planned tour is a mere facade of the reality that immigrants face in detention.

Congressional oversight and access should be unfettered, unmanaged, and transparent, as it is fundamental to ensuring Nevadans can hold taxpayer funded facilities accountable. Nevadans deserve answers on how our taxpayer dollars are spent and whether the constitutional rights of immigrants are respected.

The Nevada Southern Detention Center (NSDC), which is owned by CoreCivic, is a private facility located in Pahrump. NSDC is one of the most over-capacity ICE detention centers in the country and profits by separating Nevadans from their families.”

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The Nevada Immigrant Coalition (NIC) urges members of the immigrant community to know their rights, have family preparedness plans in place, and be aware of ICE officers in plainclothes and unmarked vehicles. By law, all Nevadans, regardless of immigration status, have rights, including due process.

While the Nevada Immigrant Coalition continues to fight for policies and laws that protect immigrant rights, it’s critical to take steps to stay safe and minimize unnecessary interactions with law enforcement. That includes:

*Keep all documentation, including Driver Authorization Cards up to date.

*Be careful to follow all traffic laws when driving.

*Don’t drink and drive.

*Avoid speeding or running red lights.

*Use appropriate turn signals.

*Fix broken tail lights, brake lights, and headlights promptly.

*Do not drive without a valid license or with an expired one.

*Avoid distractions while driving (example: texting or using your phone).

*Do not carry open containers of alcohol in your vehicle.

*Carry a Know Your Rights card or a graphic saved on your phone and emergency contact information.

NOTE: Possession or use of marijuana remains illegal for undocumented immigrants, even if it is legal in Nevada. A single traffic stop or citation can quickly escalate into immigration consequences and the Nevada Immigrant Coalition urges the community to be vigilant and protect yourself and your family.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS:

If ICE stops you . . .

*You can ask the officers if you are being detained, if you are not, then you are free to leave.

*You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer any questions regarding your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the United States.

*Do not physically resist a government official and do not run away.

*If you are over 18 or over, and a non-citizen, an immigration officer may request to see your immigration documents.  If you have your documents, the law requires you to share them if you have them.

*If you do not have your immigration documents, you still have the right to remain silent and ask for an attorney.

*Do not provide false documents to officials.

If ICE comes to your home . . .

*In most circumstances, you are not required to open the door for ICE if they don’t have a judicial warrant. A Judicial warrant is a document that is signed by a judge.

*You have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions.

If ICE takes you into custody . . .

*You have the right to ask to speak with an attorney.

*You have the right to not sign any document that you do not understand. Even if the ICE officers are persistent and want to pressure you, do not sign.

*In certain cases, you can request to see the immigration judge. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to ask for bail to be released from custody.

*You have the right to request to contact your country’s consulate for help.

*If you have minor children, let the officers know that you are the parent or primary caregiver. ICE may “exercise discretion” and let you go.

To find loved ones who may have been detained: Search the ICE Detainee Locator.

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ABOUT THE NEVADA IMMIGRANT COALITION: 

The Nevada Immigrant Coalition (NIC), founded in 2006, ensures immigrant, refugee, and new American voices are heard at a local, state, and federal level to advocate for humane and fair immigration policies. The Nevada Immigrant Coalition focuses on strengthening a network that provides services, resources, and deportation defense to immigrants and refugees across the state while strategically organizing around issues that are important to all Nevadans. We believe in working towards a Nevada that welcomes, respects, and protects everyone regardless of their immigration status.
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