Nevada Assembly Bill AJR9

Nevada 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/25
• Refer: 2/27/25
• Engrossed: 4/18/25
• Refer: 4/23/25
• Report Pass: 5/19/25
• Enrolled: 5/27/25
• Passed: 5/27/25

Caption

Urges Congress to enact legislation to prohibit officers and agents of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the United States Department of Homeland Security from entering schools and places of worship for the purposes of enforcing federal immigration laws. (BDR R-779)

Summary

Assembly Joint Resolution 9 is a nonbinding legislative resolution that urges Congress to enact federal legislation barring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and agents from entering schools and places of worship to enforce federal immigration laws. The resolution states that all children are entitled to equal access to public education regardless of immigration status and that schools and houses of worship are sensitive environments that should remain free from immigration enforcement activity. It frames ICE activity in or around these locations—such as surveillance, interviews, information demands, arrests, and detention—as disruptive to learning and religious practice. Because it is a joint resolution rather than a statute, AJR9 does not directly change Nevada law or create state-level enforcement rules. Instead, it is a formal request from the Nevada Legislature to Congress and federal leaders to adopt the proposed protections. The resolution directs the Chief Clerk to transmit copies to the Vice President, the Speaker of the U.S. House, and Nevada’s congressional delegation, signaling that its intended effect is advocacy at the federal level rather than immediate legal change in Nevada.

Impact

AJR9 would not amend Nevada statutes or regulate state agencies directly; its legal effect is limited to expressing the Legislature’s position and urging federal action. The resolution targets federal immigration enforcement practices in schools and places of worship and seeks congressional legislation that would prohibit ICE from entering those spaces for immigration enforcement purposes. Its practical impact is political and symbolic, potentially influencing federal debate and signaling Nevada’s support for “sensitive locations” protections for students, congregants, and school or religious personnel.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have received majority support in both chambers, passing the Assembly 27-15 and the Senate 14-7. That voting pattern suggests generally favorable sentiment toward limiting immigration enforcement in schools and houses of worship, especially among lawmakers concerned with protecting access to education and religious exercise. At the same time, the notable minority opposition indicates that the proposal was not unanimous and that some legislators were unwilling to endorse a resolution that could be seen as restricting federal immigration enforcement.

Contention

The main point of contention is the balance between protecting sensitive spaces and preserving federal immigration enforcement authority. Supporters emphasize that schools and places of worship should remain safe, uninterrupted environments for children and worshippers, regardless of immigration status. Opponents likely objected to the resolution’s policy stance on ICE access and may have viewed it as an inappropriate limitation on immigration enforcement or an overreach into federal matters. The divide is reflected in the recorded floor votes, with a substantial minority voting no in both chambers.