Immigration remains a focus for Republican state senators who this week helped push a bill to ban so-called sanctuary cities in New Hampshire. The bill was enacted amid active public debate about the risks facing the state from illegal border crossings along New Hampshire’s northern border, including the ACLU’s announcement this week that illegal border crossings along the state’s Canadian border It also includes new data showing that the number of illegal border crossings is relatively low.
A similar bill to ban so-called sanctuary cities in the state was introduced in 2022, but failed to pass.
Terrorists, human traffickers and drug traffickers are entering the province through the Canadian border, Senate President Jeb Bradley said at a press conference Thursday.
When asked for proof of these claims, he said: “The problem exists in every town.”
Bradley could not say whether any of the 21 immigrants who crossed the New Hampshire-Canada border between 2022 and 2023 are on watch lists for these crimes. He said he strongly supports legislation that would strengthen the role of local police in immigration enforcement. .
The purpose of the law is to require local police to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, provide information on illegal immigrants, and create fear in the community. It would also ban any policies or practices that local governments take to make illegal immigrants more welcoming.
The City of Lebanon is currently enacting an ordinance to maintain quality of life for all people, regardless of immigration status.
Police departments in Manchester, Hollis, Hudson and Merrimack have previously supported so-called “sanctuary” policies. Officials say these efforts help maintain good relations with immigrant communities. Those ministries declined to comment on the revived legislation this week.
Republican Sen. William Gannon, the bill’s lead sponsor, said many people feel the federal government isn’t doing enough to control the border, and that illegal immigration is a top concern for voters. He said that.
“We’re going to deal with New Hampshire’s problems in New Hampshire just as Texas is dealing with theirs,” he said.
Republican Sen. Sharon Carson said the goal is to protect communities from “a large number of illegal immigrants coming into our country.”
None of the bill’s sponsors provided evidence of the vast number of illegal crossings in the state.
On Thursday, about 40 activists and representatives of the state’s immigrant community appeared at the state Capitol to testify against the bill. Wesley Souza is originally from Brazil and lives there legally, but said many of his friends and family do not. He worries that the new law could lead to them being deported even if they haven’t committed a crime.
“We don’t want to hurt the American people. We’re here to help and support,” he said.
Eva Castillo, director of the New Hampshire Immigration and Refugee Alliance, said the bill comes not from Republican senators’ constituents or law enforcement, but from their “political ambitions.”
“There are several anti-immigration bills. [at the State House this year]but this is the worst,” she said.
The Rev. Alison Palm of Nashua held up a sign at the state capitol. She worries that Nashua, which has a “Welcoming City” vision for immigrants, will be affected by the bill. She wants undocumented immigrants to be able to live in the community without fear.
“was there [racism] “For a few years,” she said. “And I don’t want to live in a community where people live in fear.”
Shari Rendall, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, also testified.Her appearance at the hearing sparked opposition from some committee members, and the hearing was temporarily suspended.
Ms. Randall said she was invited to testify by one of the bill’s sponsors, but did not reveal who.
