(The Center Square) — New Hampshire cities and towns would be prohibited from enacting “sanctuary” policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration crackdowns, while local law enforcement would be required to honor ICE detainers under a pair of bills awaiting Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s signature.
One proposal, which was approved by the Senate on Thursday, prohibits “sanctuary” policies and requires local law enforcement to hold suspects sought by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for deportation for up to 48 hours.
Another bill approved by the Senate would also allow counties and local governments to sign federal 287(g) agreements with federal officials to proactively work with ICE on immigration crackdowns.
The bills would authorize the state attorney general to target any New Hampshire city or town that adopts a “sanctuary city” policy, including withholding funds and other punitive actions.
Backers of the proposals say “sanctuary” communities hinder criminal and terrorist investigations, and encourage illegal immigration. They argue that local police should be working with federal officials to go after criminals who are living in the country illegally.
“When federal authorities present an immigration detainer, New Hampshire police departments should honor that and not help illegal immigrants evade the law,” state Sen. Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, said in remarks Thursday on the Senate floor. “I never thought this would be controversial. I never thought it would take us nearly a decade to get this through.”
Democrats opposed both bills, arguing that giving local police authority to cooperate with ICE agents makes communities less safe because it dissuades people from reporting crime for fear of deportation. They argued that local police shouldn’t be forced to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement actions.
“Communities like ours should not be put in the position of enabling mass deportations or detentions that go against our values and ignore our legal and social systems,” state Sen. Tara Reardon, D-Concord, said in remarks. “We all want safe and strong communities, but that safety must be rooted in justice and compassion.”
Both measures were previously approved by the state House of Representatives, and are expected to be signed by Ayotte, a Republican, who has made abolishing sanctuary policies a key focus of her administration.
Several communities in New Hampshire, including Manchester, have local ordinances restricting cooperation with federal officials seeking undocumented immigrants on so-called ICE detainers, which can be either criminal or civil.
The proposals, if signed by Ayotte, would put New Hampshire at odds with Massachusetts and other neighboring states with “sanctuary” policies where Democrats have resisted President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
New Hampshire recently signed an agreement with the Trump administration allowing state troopers to arrest and detain immigration suspects after they are trained and certified by federal immigration officials.
In April, Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to revive the program, which largely languished under the Biden administration. ICE’s website lists 20 agencies that have signed up to participate in the program, with another 56 pending approval.
This article was originally published at www.thecentersquare.com
