New Hampshire Moves to Ban Sanctuary Cities
New Hampshire, a state that hasn’t backed a Republican presidential candidate for over two decades, has taken significant steps to effectively ban sanctuary jurisdictions.
Governor Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, signed two bills into law in May. These are House Bill 511 and Senate Bill 62, which largely prohibit sanctuary city policies and call for increased cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The laws are set to take effect at the start of the new year, likely assisting the Trump administration in its efforts to boost deportation activities across the country.
According to HB 511, local governments must comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding detainees “when it is safe to do so.” The bill also bans policies that ignore federal immigration directives. SB 62, on the other hand, strips state and local governments of the ability to stop their law enforcement agencies from forging voluntary agreements with ICE.
“As of today, sanctuary cities are officially prohibited in New Hampshire,” Ayotte remarked in a recent statement. She emphasized, “We will never go down the same path as Massachusetts and the multibillion-dollar illegal immigration crisis.”
Ayotte’s actions come in light of significant challenges faced by neighboring Massachusetts concerning its undocumented immigrant population. Those challenges include budget overruns on immigrant shelter programs and a major drug bust related to immigration that drew national attention for the state’s inadequate emergency shelter system.
It’s worth noting that while New Hampshire isn’t as heavily Democratic as Massachusetts, it’s leaned left in presidential elections increasingly over the years. The last time it supported a Republican candidate was in 2000, when George W. Bush won over Al Gore.
New Hampshire isn’t alone in pushing for pro-ICE legislation this coming year. Texas has also been active; the state legislature passed Senate Bill 8, which requires sheriffs in counties with prisons to collaborate with ICE and follow through with responsibilities tied to the 287(g) program. Counties that participate may request grants from the state based on their population.
In California, there’s a law designed to prevent ICE officers from wearing masks during enforcement operations, but legal challenges have stalled its implementation. The Trump administration has indicated it won’t adhere to statewide mask regulations, arguing that federal law enforcement actions are beyond state control.
The White House has been making concerted efforts to expand ICE operations throughout the United States and plans to keep this momentum going into 2026.
Since President Trump began his second term, the Department of Homeland Security has deported over 622,000 individuals living in the country illegally. Additionally, around 1.9 million opted to leave voluntarily during the year, influenced by financial incentives or the imminent threat of deportation.
