State Homeland Security Program - 2025 Project FAQs
What is this grant?
The Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) is a federal program designed to enhance the ability of state, local, tribal and territorial governments to prevent, prepare for, protect against and respond to potential terrorist acts and other hazards. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has applied for and received funding from this grant program for many years which has enhanced our capabilities to identify, address and respond to various threats throughout our community.
Are there other grants like this?
The federal government also disburses money from a similar grant program, the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). Currently, there are population restrictions on the UASI grant application and, in Nevada, Clark County is the only county eligible to apply for these funds.
Why did you apply for the Homeland Security Grant Program?
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office applies annually for funding through the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). These funds have historically supported regional teams, specialized units, critical safety equipment, and advanced training — all aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the WCSO and our regional partners to protect and secure our community.
What changed this year?
This year, the federal government introduced a new requirement for all states seeking Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) and Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funding: at least 10% of each grant must be dedicated to border protection and security. Failure to meet this 10% requirement would result in the denial of all UASI funding. By aligning our application with this priority, we not only ensured compliance but also positioned our region to leverage these resources in ways that strengthen both local safety and our role in national security.
What are you doing with HSGP funding this year?
The Sheriff’s Office submitted five requests for Homeland Security Grant Program funding this year. All five requests were approved and support the Regional Consolidated Bomb Squad, the Northern Nevada Regional Intelligence Center, mobile drone detection, the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT), and a remodel of the Detention Facility release corridor, as well as a dedicated, confidential interview room in the Detention Facility for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Why do you need a dedicated, confidential interview room in the Detention Facility for ICE?
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for more than 30 years. ICE has a work station in the Detention Facility, and has access to all publicly available information regarding inmates. Currently, when ICE wants to interview an inmate, interviews are conducted in a non-confidential space. The funding the Sheriff’s Office applied for would allow individuals ICE wishes to interview privacy and enhance the safety and security of everyone in the Detention Facility.
Why are you remodeling the release corridor?
The Detention Facility release corridor is small and can become congested during certain hours, particularly when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is releasing an individual. The $436,276.00 funding will allow the Sheriff’s Office to remodel the area and decrease the length of time it takes for all individuals to be released from the Detention Facility, from approximately 1 to 3 hours. This will also enhance the safety and security of staff, ICE inmates and all inmates being released from custody.
Are you expanding capacity for ICE detainees?
The Sheriff’s Office is not expanding capacity to hold ICE detainees with this or any other currently available funding.
Do you work with ICE in the Detention Facility? Do you have a 287(g) program?
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for more than 30 years. ICE has a work station in the Detention Facility, and has access to all publicly available information regarding inmates. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office does not participate in the 287(g) program.
Has it been approved?
The state of Nevada Homeland Security Committee on Finance, the Nevada Resilience Advisory Committee and the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security has approved the Sheriff’s Office request for $436,276.00 in Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) funding.
What are the next steps?
The State will submit the grant, in its entirety, with all approved requests to United States Department of Homeland Security for approval. Once reviewed and approved by the federal government, the money will be sent to the state of Nevada. Once the funding is received by the state, the Sheriff’s Office will submit a request to the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners for final approval. If approved, the Sheriff’s Office would then receive the funding.