Opinion: Trump’s immigration policies are hurting all Nevadans. Disinformation makes it worse.

President Donald Trump’s recent immigration policies are causing significant harm to Nevada’s economy and communities. The administration’s aggressive stance includes mass deportations, expanded ICE raids, and policies that instill fear rather than provide solutions to our immigration system. Nevada, a state enriched by immigrants’ contributions, cannot afford the steep consequences of these actions.

The administration’s approach to immigration has been marked by harsh measures, such as separating families, detaining children, and intensifying ICE enforcement, which have disrupted communities. The recent wave of ICE raids across the nation, including in Nevada, has created a climate of fear, causing families to live in constant anxiety, afraid to go to work, take their children to school, or seek medical care. Nevada’s immigrant population—many of whom have resided here for decades and contributed significantly to our state—deserves better.

Reports from Reno and Las Vegas indicate that disinformation is further amplifying fear in these communities. Old videos of ICE raids, some dating back years, are circulated on social media, misleading people into believing that large-scale enforcement actions are happening in real time. These tactics are designed to spread panic and deter immigrant families from engaging in their daily lives. 

At best, the individuals sharing these videos are unaware of their outdated nature — at worst, they are deliberately using them to create chaos. The spread of false information about immigration enforcement has real-world consequences—children are being kept home from school, workers are afraid to go to their jobs, and small businesses are suffering as a result.

Immigrants are integral to Nevada’s success, playing crucial roles in hospitality, construction, healthcare, and agriculture. According to the American Immigration Council, nearly one in five Nevada residents is an immigrant, and over a third of the workforce in key industries like tourism, food services, and construction are foreign-born. In the Las Vegas metropolitan area, immigrants held 27% of jobs in 2022, while comprising 26.3% of the working-age population, indicating a slightly higher employment rate among immigrants compared to native-born residents. Deporting hardworking individuals en masse would not only cause economic devastation but also create labor shortages that would affect all Nevadans. 

Nevada’s rich cultural diversity is a direct result of immigration. Our communities are stronger when we embrace the contributions of those who come here seeking a better life. Instead of vilifying them, we should advocate for comprehensive immigration reform—one that provides pathways to citizenship, protections for DACA recipients, and humane policies that recognize the dignity of all people.

The administration and its allies are using immigration as a political weapon, pushing disinformation to fuel anti-immigrant sentiment. They claim, falsely, that immigrants are driving crime rates up despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Studies consistently show that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans. For instance, a 2020 study analyzing Texas Department of Public Safety data found that immigrants, regardless of legal status, were arrested at less than half the rate of U.S.-born citizens for violent and drug crimes, and at one-quarter the rate for property crimes. 

Additionally, research indicates that immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born individuals. These findings suggest that cities with large immigrant populations often experience lower crime rates overall.

Misinformation is one of the most dangerous tools in this campaign of fear. The spread of misleading ICE raid videos in Nevada is just one example of how disinformation can manipulate public perception. Social media platforms have become breeding grounds for viral falsehoods, where fear-driven narratives spread faster than facts. As a community, we must take steps to verify information before sharing it. Checking timestamps on videos, cross-referencing sources, and relying on trusted news outlets are all crucial in the fight against misinformation.

To counter this fearmongering, we must stay informed and challenge false narratives. This means relying on reputable news sources, calling out racist and misleading rhetoric, and supporting organizations that provide accurate information about immigration. 

We must also hold elected officials accountable—demanding that they reject extremist policies and instead advocate for humane immigration solutions. This includes using the tragic death of Laken Riley to push harsh immigration measures. By attaching anti-immigrant provisions to a bill meant to address public safety, these lawmakers are exploiting fear rather than enacting meaningful reforms. Such political maneuvers do nothing to protect communities and instead serve to demonize immigrants who contribute to our society every day.

Nevada has a choice. We can allow the administration’s anti-immigrant policies to take root, or we can stand up for the families, workers, and communities that make our state strong. The stakes are too high to remain silent. We must push for policies that reflect our values—ones that prioritize dignity, economic stability, and the fundamental belief that America is strongest when we embrace those who seek opportunity within our borders.