New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte is urging for the elimination of ‘sanctuary’ cities that impede cooperation with federal efforts to crack down on immigration. She asserts this position as President Donald Trump prepares for what he claims will be the most extensive mass deportation in American history.
Kelly Ayotte, a Republican and former U.S. senator who recently took office, has made a commitment to prevent local governments from implementing these policies. She also plans to enact a law that would mandate local police to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers by handing over undocumented immigrants for deportation.
“We have a real crisis with illegal immigrants here in Massachusetts just down the road, and it’s a clear example of how these dangerous policies not only impact communities but also strain the state budget,” Ayotte emphasized in her inaugural address. “Instead of investing in our law-abiding residents, they have already spent over a billion dollars on housing migrants. We must not let the same thing happen in our state.”
During her campaign, Ayotte used the slogan “Don’t MASS Up New Hampshire” to criticize Massachusetts’ high tax burden and the migrant crisis, which was partly caused by ‘sanctuary’ laws that restrict local law enforcement cooperation with ICE agents.
According to Ayotte, our neighbors to the south are determined to demonstrate the classic definition of insanity – repeating the same actions while expecting different outcomes. Despite grappling with a billion-dollar illegal immigrant crisis, they have decided to persist in their approach. In contrast, New Hampshire aims to take a different path. Ayotte asserts that the state will prohibit sanctuary policies and equip law enforcement with the necessary resources to collaborate effectively. The ultimate goal is to prevent this crisis from impacting our communities.
Sanctuary policies differ greatly depending on the community. The main objective of these policies is to prevent local law enforcement from assuming the role of immigration agents or enforcing federal immigration laws, which encompass both civil and criminal aspects. In various communities across New Hampshire, such as Manchester, there are local ordinances in place that limit collaboration with federal officials who are searching for undocumented immigrants based on ICE detainers. It is important to note that these detainers can pertain to either criminal or civil matters.
Tom Homan, the appointed border ‘czar’ by President Trump, has made a resolute commitment to fulfill the immigration promises made during the campaign. He has vowed to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, and is determined to take action against states that refuse to cooperate with the federal immigration crackdown.
Ayotte expressed her expectation that lawmakers will deliver legislation aimed at preventing New Hampshire municipalities from enacting laws that obstruct the Trump administration’s deportation strategies.
Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill on Monday that aims to put an end to “sanctuary city” policies and ensure local law enforcement actively supports the enforcement of federal immigration law. If passed, the bill would hold any New Hampshire city or town accountable for adopting such policies, with punitive measures enforced by the state attorney general.
“If a local governmental entity or local law enforcement agency violates this chapter, the court shall prohibit the unlawful sanctuary policy,” states the bill. “The court maintains ongoing authority over the parties involved and the subject matter, and it can enforce its orders by initiating contempt proceedings as stipulated by law.”