New Hampshire Gov. Ayotte pledges to ban 'sanctuary' communities

(The Center Square) — New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte is calling for a ban on 'sanctuary' cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration crackdowns as incoming President Donald Trump gears up to conduct "the largest mass deportation in U.S. history."

Ayotte, a Republican and former U.S. senator who was sworn to office last week, pledged to prohibit local governments from adopting such policies and pass a law requiring local police to turn over undocumented immigrants wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for deportation.

"We've got the Massachusetts illegal immigrant crisis right down the road if you want to see what these dangerous policies do not just to communities, but to the state budget," Ayotte said in her inaugural address. "They've spent over a billion dollars housing migrants rather than investing in their law-abiding residents. We can't allow that to happen here."

On the campaign trail, Ayotte's slogan "Don’t MASS Up New Hampshire" panned Massachusetts' high tax burden and a migrant crisis fueled in part by 'sanctuary' laws that limit local law enforcement cooperation with ICE agents.

“Our neighbors to the south seem intent on proving that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. As they struggle with a billion-dollar illegal immigrant crisis, they are instead choosing to double down,” Ayotte said in a recent statement. “Here in New Hampshire, we are going to ban sanctuary policies and give law enforcement the tools to work together to ensure this crisis never comes to our towns.”

Sanctuary policies vary widely by community. Many are aimed at preventing local police from acting as immigration agents or enforcing federal immigration laws, which are both civil and criminal in nature. Several communities in New Hampshire, including Manchester, have local ordinances restricting cooperation with federal officials seeking undocumented immigrants on so-called ICE detainers, which can be either criminal or civil.

Trump's border 'czar' Tom Homan has pledged to make good on the president-elect's campaign promises to detain and deport undocumented immigrants and is threatening to punish states that don't comply with a federal immigration crackdown.

Ayotte said she is "counting on" lawmakers to send her legislation to prevent New Hampshire cities and towns from passing laws to prevent the incoming Trump administration from carrying out its deportation plans.

A bill filed on Monday by Republican lawmakers would prohibit so-called “sanctuary city” policies and require local law enforcement to use their "best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law." Under the bill, any New Hampshire city or town that adopts a "sanctuary city" policy would be subject to punitive action from the state attorney general.

"If a local governmental entity or local law enforcement agency violates this chapter, the court shall enjoin the unlawful sanctuary policy," the bill reads. "The court has continuing jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter and may enforce its orders with the initiation of contempt proceedings as provided by law."