New Hampshire’s House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a bill to ban “sanctuary city” policies, marking a significant shift in the state’s approach to immigration enforcement.
At a Glance
- New Hampshire’s House passed House Bill 511 with a 351-6 vote to ban “sanctuary city” policies
- The bill prohibits local entities from impeding federal immigration law enforcement
- Amendments were made to prevent local law enforcement from investigating citizenship status without authorization
- The legislation reflects a broader Republican-led effort to tighten immigration policies in the state
- Democrats largely supported the amended bill as a harm-reduction measure
New Hampshire Takes Stance Against Sanctuary Cities
In a decisive move, the New Hampshire House of Representatives has passed House Bill 511, effectively banning “sanctuary city” policies across the state. The bill, which passed with an overwhelming majority of 351-6, represents a significant shift in the state’s approach to immigration enforcement and aligns with Governor Kelly Ayotte’s focus on abolishing sanctuary city policies.
The legislation prohibits local entities from impeding federal immigration law enforcement and allows the state attorney general to take legal action against non-compliant cities or towns. This move is part of a broader Republican-led effort to tighten immigration policies in the state, with similar bills also passing in the Senate.
Bipartisan Support and Compromise
Interestingly, the bill garnered support from both sides of the aisle, with many Democrats joining Republicans in passing the legislation. This bipartisan backing came after key amendments were made to the bill, aimed at striking a balance between strict enforcement and community trust.
“The vote on HB 511 was a harm-reduction measure. As amended, the bill has the support of the Immigrant Rights Network here in New Hampshire. Since Republicans may have had the votes to pass this legislation unamended, Democrats on the committee worked hard and worked together to try to mitigate and minimize its potential harm,” Rep. David Meuse said.
One crucial amendment prevents New Hampshire law enforcement from investigating citizenship status unless authorized by law, leaving such investigations to federal agencies like ICE. This compromise aims to maintain trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities while still adhering to federal immigration laws.
Republican Stance on Immigration
Republicans in the state legislature have been vocal about their support for stricter immigration policies. Majority Leader Jason Osborne emphasized the need for such legislation, stating, “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: We will not allow our communities to be overrun by an invasion of illegal aliens.”
Senator Bill Gannon, a sponsor of a similar bill in the Senate, echoed this sentiment: “It’s our responsibility to the residents of New Hampshire to make it known that the only immigration that New Hampshire welcomes is legal immigration.”
