New Hampshire lawmakers have taken another step toward ending sanctuary cities within The Granite State. On Thursday, February 6, the House voted 351-6 to pass a bill banning policies that aid in the protection of illegal immigrants. Although many Democrats initially opposed the legislation, after some eventual compromises, they felt this was a version they could support.
New Hampshire Sanctuary Cities on Borrowed Time?
Majority Leader Jason Osborne said in a statement afterward: “Today House Republicans resoundingly and unanimously voted to ban dangerous and lawless sanctuary city policies and to keep our schools from being used as housing for illegal aliens.”
“Our position is clear,” he continued. “We will not allow our communities to be overrun by an invasion of illegal aliens.”
All but six Democrats voted for the new bill because of amendments ensuring that, unless otherwise authorized, state law enforcement would not investigate the citizenship of someone they arrest. Those duties will continue to belong to ICE. Authorities will still be required to contact the federal immigration agency in cases where they arrest someone who has been flagged with an ICE detainer request. Democrats said the bill will protect immigrants who are in the country illegally but are not charged with other crimes.
“We absolutely agree that people who are committing crimes in our communities should not be continually just let out and not face the consequences of their actions,” Rep. Alissandra Murray, a Manchester Democrat, told the New Hampshire Bulletin. “But we also think that it’s important for law enforcement to maintain the trust they have with immigrant communities, which requires them to not have to be forced to detain every single person that they come across who may have an ICE detainer.” She said the new bill will prevent law enforcement from being deputized against “law-abiding people.”
California Bucking the Trend
While some sanctuary city policies are crumbling, other blue states are trying to build up protections for illegal immigrants. Friday night, February 7, California Governor Gavin Newsom approved $50 million in funds for legal battles against President Donald Trump and his administration.
The “Trump-proof” legislation took effect on January 9. The Daily Caller explained that it would give the state’s Department of Justice $25 million for litigation against the administration and another $25 million to defend illegal migrants from deportation. The California bill states that it “will bolster funding for legal services programs that are vital to safeguarding the civil rights of California’s most vulnerable residents, including people with disabilities, youth who are homeless, victims of human trafficking and wage theft, people facing unlawful evictions, immigrants and more.”
The Granite State Model
The passage of House Bill 511 marks a significant step toward abolishing sanctuary cities in New Hampshire, reflecting a growing consensus on the need for reform. The legislation seeks to address concerns on both sides of the aisle, and, if signed into law, it will stand as a key achievement in reshaping the state's approach to immigration enforcement. The legislation may also serve as inspiration for compromise for other states and cities struggling to find a balance between protecting migrants and following the law.
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