New Story Uncovers How Joe Lombardo Led a Corrupt Operation to Deport Non-Violent Immigrants and Kept the Public in the Dark
Joe Lombardo has consistently been caught talking out of both sides of his mouth for months, but now it’s more than political calculation as Lombardo has been caught in a web of lies and corruption. He’s already tried to spin multiple versions of his immigration policies, and now there are new facts that shine an even greater spotlight on Lombardo’s deception.
New reporting from the Las Vegas Review-Journal revealed that just one day after Lombardo publicly touted ending the controversial 287(g) program, Metro officers were instructed to help lead ICE to undocumented immigrants held for nonviolent offenses. And to keep his hands clean, officers were told not to keep record that the inmate had been picked up by ICE.
“Local immigration advocates say Metro’s policy toward nonviolent offenders runs contrary to Lombardo’s public position. They also say the department’s record-keeping practice is non-transparent.”
“That means that they certainly have a responsibility to keep records to let the public know what they’re doing. That’s a basic requirement of transparency.”
Previously, Lombardo downplayed his role in immigration enforcement at an event hosted by the NAACP, insisting Metro only goes after “the worst of the worst” and doesn’t work closely with ICE after the end of the 287(g) program. He even doubled down that he doesn’t have a zero tolerance policy for undocumented immigration.
Lombardo, speaking to the NAACP: “They said ‘I’m zero tolerance to undocumented immigrants’ is absolutely false.”
In front of a Republican audience, the story changes as he uses his corruption and lack of transparency as a talking point to pander to the conservative base. He tweeted about his zero tolerance stance, bragged about deporting thousands of immigrants, and revealed Metro continued communicating with ICE after the end of the 287(g) program–with no knowledge to the public, elected officials, or the Clark County Commission who oversees and funds LVMPD.
After telling different stories to different audiences as sheriff and as candidate for governor for months, neither he nor his campaign have responded to questions.
“Lombardo’s campaign did not respond to repeated inquiries about the internal system or the ‘10,000 deported’ claims.”
“Joe Lombardo has never shown an ounce of integrity or transparency, but the uncovering of deep corruption makes it clear he isn’t qualified to hold the highest office in the state–or his current office, for that matter,” said Nevada Democratic Victory spokesperson Mallory Payne. “Now, after being called out for lying, he suddenly has nothing to say. Nevadans deserve better than the deceit and dishonesty Lombardo would bring to the governor’s mansion.”
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