ACLU sues Nevada DMV over secret signal messages with ICE

By Brittany Sheehan  

Nevada News and Views

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada filed a lawsuit Thursday against the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The ACLU claims the DMV failed to release public records about communications with federal immigration officials.

The lawsuit centers on documents that suggest DMV staff used the encrypted Signal messaging app to communicate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. These communications were never disclosed to the public.

The Records Request

The ACLU submitted multiple public records requests starting in February 2025. They wanted to see correspondence between the Nevada DMV and ICE.

After sending a formal demand letter through the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, the DMV turned over heavily redacted and incomplete documents. The ACLU says these records suggest there is a Signal chat between DMV staff and ICE that has not been made public.

ACLU Executive Director Athar Haseebullah said during a press conference Thursday: “The DMV and ICE have remained in communication, have seemingly been collaborative, and suggest there is a secret Signal chat between staff at ICE and the Nevada DMV, which has never been disclosed to the public,”

Background on Nevada Driver Cards

Nevada is one of 19 states that allow undocumented people to get drivers’ licenses through driver authorization cards. These cards allow people who cannot meet standard proof of identity requirements to still drive legally. According to the Nevada DMV website, the cards are not valid identification for federal purposes.

During President Donald Trump’s first administration, at least three states shared drivers’ immigration information with ICE.

At that time, Nevada DMV spokeswoman Brandi Alexandra Smith told the online outlet Governing that the state: “does not release any information relating to immigration status, nationality or citizenship from license application files.”

She said state law prevents the DMV from sharing information with other agencies “for the purpose of immigration.”

Legal Framework

Under Nevada law, the DMV is severely restricted in how it can share information with immigration authorities.

Nevada Revised Statute 481.063, section 12 specifically states that the DMV director:

“shall not release any personal information from a file or record relating to a license, identification card or title or registration of a vehicle to any person or to any federal, state or local governmental entity for any purpose relating to the enforcement of immigration laws” unless the person provides written consent or there is a court order.

This prohibition was enacted through Senate Bill 303 (SB 303), which created Nevada’s Driver Authorization Card program in 2013 and became law on January 2, 2014. The law allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driving privileges and was designed to encourage people to get licensed and insured without fear of immigration consequences.

Under the Privacy Act of 1974, federal agencies must tell the public how they plan to use and safeguard personal data before they begin collecting it. Agencies are not supposed to use data beyond the stated purpose.

The Nevada Public Records Act requires state agencies to provide public records unless they fall under specific exemptions.

DMV Response

When a local publication filed a similar public records request in June, the DMV said the request was “exempt from disclosure: ”because “any information between DHS and our compliance division are on-going cases, which are not public records and cannot be released.”

Broader Context

This lawsuit comes as Nevada increases cooperation with ICE across multiple agencies.

Last Friday, news broke that the state’s National Guard was authorized to help ICE with administrative tasks. Earlier that week, Nevada appeared on a federal list of “sanctuary states” despite having no laws that prohibit collaboration between state officials and federal immigration agents.

Several police departments, including Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, have active partnerships with ICE through which local officers are deputized to carry out federal immigration enforcement duties.

What the ACLU Wants

The lawsuit seeks to compel the DMV to release records about its communications and potential collaboration with ICE under the Nevada Public Records Act.

The ACLU argues that the public has a right to know about government communications and partnerships, especially those involving personal information collected by state agencies.

What Critics Say

Supporters of enhanced immigration enforcement might argue that cooperation between state and federal agencies helps enforce immigration law and protect public safety. They could contend that some communications need to remain confidential for operational security reasons.

Immigration enforcement advocates have long pushed for greater information sharing between state DMVs and federal agencies, arguing it helps identify people who may be in the country illegally.

What Happens Next

The case will proceed through Nevada courts. If the ACLU wins, the DMV would be required to release the requested records about its communications with ICE.

The outcome could set precedent for how much transparency is required when state agencies communicate with federal authorities, particularly using encrypted messaging platforms.

The case may also clarify what exemptions state agencies can claim when withholding records about federal partnerships.

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Brittany Sheehan is a Las Vegas-based mother, policy advocate and grassroots leader. She is active in local politics, successful in campaign work and passionate about liberty.