New Hampshire Senate Approves Anti-Sanctuary City Bills

The New Hampshire Senate, led by a Republican supermajority, has advanced and approved two key anti-sanctuary city bills aimed at prohibiting municipalities from adopting sanctuary policies and requiring local law enforcement to comply with federal immigration detainers when safe to do so. These bills include provisions that allow police and sheriffs to enter agreements with federal immigration officials and permit jails to hold individuals on immigration detainers for up to 48 hours. Senate Republicans framed the legislation as an effort to uphold federal law and enhance public safety, citing concerns about undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activities. Senate Democrats opposed the bills, expressing concerns about the broad reach of immigration enforcement and the potential chilling effects on immigrant communities and due process rights. The legislation, which has been a nearly decade-long effort, is expected to be signed into law by Governor Kelly Ayotte. The measures reflect a significant GOP victory while highlighting the ongoing partisan divide over immigration policy in New Hampshire.