(Erica Neely) – Buckle up, folks, because Nevada’s Latino Legislative Caucus just unveiled their “priorities” for the session – and it’s a doozy.
While they’re pitching their agenda as a crusade for justice, let’s peel back the curtain and see what’s really at play.
Their headline act? The “Family Unity Support Act,” which aims to provide social, legal, and educational resources to children whose parents face deportation.
Sounds compassionate, right? Who wouldn’t want to help kids?
But here’s the kicker: this is less about “family unity” and more about doubling down on failed immigration policies while sticking taxpayers with the bill.
According to Assemblywoman Cecelia González, this bill is “crucial” because mixed-status families make up 9% of Nevada’s households.
She says it’s personal to her – and that’s fine. But what about the Nevada families struggling to put food on the table and keep their own lights on? Where’s their bailout?
The Real Elephant in the Room
Let’s get real.
If deportations are happening, it’s because the law—you know, that thing that keeps society from devolving into chaos—is being enforced. Don’t want to be separated from your kids? Follow the rules. It’s that simple.
But instead of encouraging personal responsibility, this caucus wants to redirect your hard-earned tax dollars to social programs that enable lawbreaking.
And they’re doing it against a political backdrop that’s shifting fast.
With President Trump pushing a tough-on-border-security agenda and Republican Governor Joe Lombardo signaling support, you’d think the caucus would focus on working with reality instead of dreaming up veto-bait.
More Government, Less Accountability
This isn’t the first time Nevada’s Latino Caucus has embraced big government solutions.
They’ve got a laundry list of priorities, from pushing “universal” free school lunches to criminal justice reform that makes life easier for offenders.
Let’s not forget their love for “stronger” gun safety laws – because nothing screams safety like disarming law-abiding citizens while crime rates climb.
Then there’s the “Second Look Act,” which aims to review long sentences for young offenders.
Translation? Let’s give violent criminals a do-over because they were young when they committed their crimes.
Newsflash: actions have consequences—or at least, they should.
Critics Speak Up – And They Have a Point
Critics of these proposals are calling out the obvious.
For one, Nevada’s already stretched thin. Roads need repairs and health care is a mess. Why funnel more money into programs that serve people who aren’t even supposed to be here?
And let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: when local resources are spent on undocumented immigrants, it’s legal residents and citizens – including Latinos – who lose out.
Nevada families deserve better.
A Pattern of Misplaced Priorities
This isn’t the first time the caucus has championed questionable causes.
Remember the HOPE Act, which tried to expand Medicaid to undocumented immigrants? Or Assemblywoman Selena Torres-Fossett’s push to block local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration agents?
These folks are more focused on shielding lawbreakers than protecting law-abiding Nevadans.
Meanwhile, hardworking families are struggling with inflation, rising housing costs, and skyrocketing gas prices – but those issues don’t seem to be front and center for the caucus.
What Nevadans Really Want
Most Nevadans – Latino or not – care about the basics: safe neighborhoods, good schools, affordable housing, and job opportunities.
They want lawmakers who prioritize legal residents and enforce existing laws. They don’t want more social programs that encourage people to skirt the system.
If the Latino Caucus truly wants to help their constituents, maybe they should focus on policies that strengthen families by encouraging self-sufficiency, supporting small businesses, and cracking down on crime.
That would be a real step toward unity – without the political theater.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it’s easy to play the victim card and push for feel-good policies that sound great in press conferences.
But Nevadans deserve more than empty promises and virtue signaling. They deserve leaders who will fight for them – not for the applause of political activists and out-of-touch lobbyists.
If Governor Lombardo vetoes this bill, it won’t be because he’s heartless. It’ll be because he’s putting Nevada’s future first. Democrats should learn from his example.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
