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Granite State Democrats insist there aren’t any in New Hampshire. Left-wing media outlets like New Hampshire Public Radio use ‘scare quotes’ in their coverage to reject the entire premise.

But on Thursday, the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released what it calls a “comprehensive list” of sanctuary cities in the U.S. And two New Hampshire towns — Hanover and Lebanon — are included among the “sanctuary jurisdictions that are deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws and endangering American citizens.”

According to a statement from DHS, producing and releasing the sanctuary city list is required by an executive order issued by President Donald Trump.

“The list was created to identify sanctuary jurisdictions, which are determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions, and legal protections for illegal aliens.”

A fact check by NHJournal in January listed 10 jurisdictions that had embraced sanctuary policies. Among them: Lebanon and Hanover, both of which have proudly touted their status as towns that “deliberately obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration law” in the past.

Months of debate over the sanctuary city issue culminated in Gov. Kelly Ayotte signing legislation banning the policy and forbidding local politicians from ordering police not to cooperate with federal officials. During that debate, Democrats repeated the claim that “there are no sanctuary cities in New Hampshire.”

Among them was the 2024 Democratic nominee for governor, former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig.

“The thing in New Hampshire is, we’re not a sanctuary state, and there are no sanctuary cities,” Craig said during the 2024 campaign. “So, they’re using Republican talking points to attack me.”

Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D-Portsmouth) has publicly declared, “There are no sanctuary cities in New Hampshire.”

Meanwhile, Lebanon City Manager Shaun Mulholland has acknowledged his community “prohibits the police department from allowing immigration officials into the police station to speak with someone in custody,” but insists that’s not a sanctuary city policy.

The Department of Homeland Security has now made a formal declaration.

“New Hampshire Democrats can lie all they want — but the facts speak for themselves,” said Rep. Joe Sweeney (R-Salem), the primary sponsor of New Hampshire’s new anti-sanctuary-city law. “Hanover and Lebanon are now officially listed as sanctuary jurisdictions by Homeland Security. That means local officials are actively undermining federal immigration law. We took action to stop it. There is no sanctuary for illegal aliens in New Hampshire.”

The feds say they are following up, too.

“Each jurisdiction listed will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with federal statutes. DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens,” the DHS announced.

Despite the DHS declaration and the state’s new law, some communities are still moving forward with plans to provide sanctuary for illegal aliens. The Caledonia Record reports that on May 22, after it was obvious the state was going to ban them, the Democrats who govern the town of Franconia introduced a resolution declaring it a sanctuary city. Selectman Eric Meth says he wants the town to move forward with its plan, even if state law will make it mere symbolism.