Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D-Portsmouth) insist “there are no sanctuary cities in New Hampshire.”
They apparently forgot to tell Peterborough.
The liberal Hillsborough County community is still in an uproar over a February visit by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that appeared to target the Mi Jalisco Mexican Restaurant. The incident was discussed at the Peterborough town budget meeting on March 4, where Police Chief Scott Guinard and Town Administrator Nicole MacStay addressed concerns.
“The town and the police department were not involved,” insisted Guinard, who said federal officials were looking for four people.
“They did not tell us why,” Guinard said. “We were given very little information.”
And, Guinard insisted, town officials did not cooperate in any way. Instead, Guinard claimed, he told the feds that the town’s policy would not permit any cooperation.
“I’ve informed them that pursuant to our town policy voted on in 2017, that we — the Peterborough Police Department — would not be involved in immigration detention or immigration violations,” Guinard said.
MacStay then read an ordinance adopted by town meeting in May, 2017.
“Peterborough town officials shall not inquire into the immigration or citizenship status of an individual except when the inquiry relates to a legitimate law enforcement purpose that is unrelated to the enforcement of a civil immigration law,” according to the ordinance.
This ordinance, and the statement by Guinard that police will not cooperate with immigration enforcement, makes Peterborough one of New Hampshire’s “sanctuary” communities, along with Hanover and Lebanon. It also puts this deep-blue town at odds with most Granite Staters.
A new poll from the Saint Anselm College Survey Center released Monday found New Hampshire voters support President Trump’s policy of deporting illegal immigrants 55 to 44 percent.
The issue of sanctuary city policies has been front-page news thanks in part to the high-profile appearance of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu before a congressional oversight committee last week. Rather than defend the city’s sanctuary policies, Wu tried to argue that they don’t exist.
“Being a sanctuary city as you describe it, or being a welcoming city as we describe it, that’s home for everyone,” Wu responded to a Republican congressman’s inquiry.
At the Peterborough town meeting, Guinard made the claim that “in New Hampshire, local, county and state police do not have the authority to enforce federal law, therefore, we’re not involved in federal law enforcement.” In fact, local police can support federal law enforcement efforts, as demonstrated by the state-funded Northern Border Alliance Task Force.
And Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who ran on a platform opposing sanctuary policies, has announced that the New Hampshire State Police are applying to participate in a program that deputized local law enforcement to enforce immigration law. About a half dozen local departments, including the sheriff’s offices in Belknap and Grafton counties, are joining the program.
One Peterborough resident speaking on condition of anonymity told NHJournal, “Liberal places like Boston and Chicago pride themselves on not cooperating with ICE on immigration enforcement, and now it seems ICE and the feds have decided not to cooperate with them, either.”
Peterborough Selectman Tyler Ward said he has yet to reach out to any of the federal agencies involved in last month’s raid.
“I didn’t call ICE directly, I didn’t call the DEA directly,” he said. “I don’t know if they’d give me an answer.”
“I really feel helpless. Peterborough’s being targeted because we have an ordinance.”
