New Hampshire Bans Sanctuary Cities
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New Hampshire's Republican Governor Kelly A. Ayotte has signed into law two bills that ban sanctuary city policies and promote cooperation between state law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities.
On Thursday, Ayotte signed both House Bill 511 and Senate Bill 62, making New Hampshire the first state in New England to ban sanctuary jurisdictions.
"I said from the beginning that we won't let our state go the way of Massachusetts and their billion-dollar illegal immigrant crisis," Governor Ayotte said.
However, Amanda Azad, Policy Director at the ACLU of New Hampshire, told Newsweek, in part, "Law enforcement in New Hampshire should not detain anyone without due process – but that's what these laws may encourage."
Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte waves while arriving with her husband Joseph Daley during her inauguration at the State House, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Concord, New Hampshire.
Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte waves while arriving with her husband Joseph Daley during her inauguration at the State House, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Concord, New Hampshire.
Charles Krupa/AP
Why It Matters
The move will theoretically make it easier for the White House to carry out its plans to remove millions of undocumented immigrants.
Many Democrats view sanctuary cities as a matter of human rights, while Republicans argue they are safe havens for people who entered the U.S. illegally.
Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that limit or refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in the arrest of undocumented immigrants.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April directing federal and state officials to compile lists of so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions. The order directs the government to identify federal funds that can be withheld as a penalty for cities that enforce sanctuary policies.
What To Know
"There will be no sanctuary cities in New Hampshire, period. End of story," Ayotte said at a press conference Thursday.
Ayotte, a former New Hampshire attorney general and U.S. senator, made opposition to sanctuary cities a central issue in her 2024 gubernatorial campaign. Her platform contrasted New Hampshire's approach to immigration policy with that of neighboring Massachusetts, which she criticized for its more lenient stance.
Ayotte vowed to ban sanctuary cities before the gubernatorial election, delivering on a key campaign pledge.
"This is something we ran on to make sure that New Hampshire would not go the way of Massachusetts and their billion-dollar illegal immigration crisis," Ayotte said.
She stood alongside Republican lawmakers, law enforcement officials, and signs bearing her campaign slogan 'Don't Mass up New Hampshire.'
"We are sending a clear message to the state of New Hampshire today that if you're in this nation illegally, you are not welcome in the state of New Hampshire," said Representative Joe Sweeney, who introduced the bill in the state legislator.
Across the aisle, some state Democrats in New Hampshire, who opposed the measure, expressed deep concern.
"What this bill does, under the guise of enabling New Hampshire law enforcement to support federal immigration efforts, is to make our state a willing accomplice in a politically manufactured campaign of state terrorism against a group of people, the vast majority of whom came here not to victimize America, but because they love America and they believe America is good," state Rep. David Meuse told reporters.
House Bill 511 and Senate Bill 62 are set to take effect in early 2026 and aim to increase state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
HB 511 mandates that local and state law enforcement agencies comply with immigration detainers for inmates and prohibits policies that would obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The bill also prevents authorities from withholding immigration-related information about individuals in custody. It includes exceptions for certain individuals who have been victims or witnesses of crimes, and it limits law enforcement's ability to investigate an inmate's citizenship status under specific circumstances.
SB 62 similarly restricts local governments from interfering with state or federal immigration enforcement activities. It authorizes the state attorney general to take legal action against jurisdictions that violate the law. Additionally, it permits county corrections departments to hold individuals for up to 48 hours after state charges are resolved, allowing time to transfer detainees into ICE custody.
The bill also reinforces the ability of state and local agencies to enter into formal agreements with ICE under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which enables designated officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions. The legislation bars local jurisdictions from prohibiting participation in such agreements.
No towns in New Hampshire have officially adopted a sanctuary designation, although cities like Lebanon and Nashua have implemented "welcoming" policies.
What People Are Saying
Governor Ayotte said in a press release: "Today, we're delivering on our promise by banning sanctuary cities and supporting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. New Hampshire will never be a sanctuary for criminals, and we will keep working every day to remain the safest state in the nation."
State Rep. Sweeney said in a post on X: "We are doing everything we can to keep New Hampshire safe."
Amanda Azad, Policy Director at the ACLU of New Hampshire, told Newsweek:
"Law enforcement in New Hampshire should not detain anyone without due process – but that's what these laws may encourage. Police should not be aiding in federal immigration enforcement by executing ICE detainers - which are not signed by a judge and do not go through due process. These harmful actions by police would be embracing cruelty and sowing seeds of distrust between local communities and law enforcement."
What Happens Next
The legislation will come into effect next year.
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