When a bill banning sanctuary city policies came up for a vote last April, state Rep. Jodi Newell (D-Keene) denounced Republicans for fanning fears over a nonexistent problem.
“We are being ginned up to be concerned about one or two mass murderers,” Newell said, “and so I think this is unnecessary and harmful.”
However, on Friday, Newell — along with every other Democrat on the House Criminal Justice Committee — voted to pass the sanctuary city ban legislation (HB511).
After years of Democrats decrying the ban as racist and unnecessary, the 16-0 vote by the committee — which includes outspoken progressives like Reps. David Meuse (Portsmouth) and Alissandra Murray (D-Manchester) — left some Republicans speechless.
“If you watch the video, you can see my jaw drop,” said Rep. Ross Berry, who was filling in on the committee for the vote.
Rep. Joe Sweeney (R-Salem), the prime sponsor of the bill, called the vote a win for New Hampshire.
“We are banning sanctuary cities in New Hampshire. The voters spoke loud and clear about avoiding Massachusetts policies – we listened,” Sweeney said after the vote.
The bill was already expected to pass the GOP-controlled House. With Democrat support, a ban on the current sanctuary policies in cities like Hanover and Lebanon is all but certain.
It’s a remarkable reversal for Granite State Democrats.
In the past, Meuse denounced the legislation for “demonizing immigrants,” arguing that there is no illegal immigration issue in New Hampshire.
“I think the problem that we’re trying to solve with this particular bill is that Fox News has nonstop 24/7 coverage of the southern border crisis and that we would kind of like to have our own little piece of it here in New Hampshire.”
Nashua Democrat Rep. Linda Harriott-Gathright echoed those sentiments during last year’s debate.
“You are trying to solve a problem that really doesn’t exist for us.”
The false claim that there are no sanctuary cities in New Hampshire was repeated by Democrats throughout the debate, including by their party’s nominee for governor last year, former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig.
The question now is how Granite State progressive organizations like the Granite State Organizing Project, American Friends Service Committee, and NH Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees — which released a public letter last month denouncing immigration enforcement in New Hampshire – – will respond.
Republicans were elated.
“I was proud to lead my members in support of this important defense of our state and our sovereignty,” said committee chair Rep. Terry Roy. “The Criminal Justice Committee Republicans stand with the law-abiding citizens of New Hampshire and will continue to do so on not only the issue of illegal immigration but on certain punishment for those who would traffic in human beings and illegal narcotics.
“If you come to New Hampshire to commit crime, you will stay to serve time.”
