New Hampshire Governor Signs Bill Banning Sanctuary City Policy

On Thursday, Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire enacted legislation aimed at banning the sanctuary city policy in the state.

“New Hampshire has no sanctuary cities,” Ayotte stated firmly, adding that this conclusion was final. It seems she’s clear about her stance on the issue.

The new laws, specifically House Bill 511 and Senate Bill 62, prevent local officials and law enforcement from creating policies that would hinder collaboration with federal immigration authorities, like ICE.

House Bill 511 emphasizes that local governments must cooperate with ICE when dealing with detainees, and it stops municipalities from enacting policies that would disregard immigration orders. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 62 forbids cities from establishing regulations that could block police from making agreements with ICE.

During the bill signing, Ayotte didn’t hesitate to draw contrasts with Massachusetts, New Hampshire’s neighbor. She remarked, “This is something we ran to prevent New Hampshire from walking the Massachusetts road.”

Since taking office last year, Ayotte has consistently sought to dismantle sanctuary policies. She expressed concerns about Massachusetts’ ongoing struggles with illegal immigration and drug trafficking, stating she didn’t want her state to follow that path.

Republican leaders in the state have voiced strong support for Ayotte’s initiatives. State Senator Bill Ganon commented on the governor’s commitment, remarking, “I see the governor and I think it’s amazing. She made promises. She held them.”

Joe Sweeney, the House Majority Leader, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We are sending a clear message to New Hampshire today. If you are illegal in this country, you will not be welcomed in New Hampshire.”

The bills were well-received in both the state Senate and House of Representatives, passing through the House in February with a significant majority of 351 to 6.

Currently, New Hampshire’s statehouse is predominantly Republican, with 221 Republicans compared to 171 Democrats, giving the GOP a sizable edge. This dominance has been consistent, with the party holding the Senate as well since 2011, except for brief periods in 2019 and 2020.

Interestingly, New Hampshire boasts the largest legislative body in the country, comprised of 400 members representing 203 districts, dwarfing other states like Pennsylvania.