Concord, New Hampshire — New Hampshire became the first state in what is called a banned New England Sanctuary city.
“New Hampshire has no sanctuary cities, the era, the end of the story,” Republican Gov. Kelly Ayot said at a bill signing ceremony at the Capitol.
Speaking to Fox News Digital a few minutes later, Ayotte said the measures she signed “not only would it ban New Hampshire’s sanctuary cities, but would also allow for all the cooperation of law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.”
New Hampshire They will join more and more states when banning sanctuary cities. This is a term used to describe a jurisdiction that has some restrictions on cooperating with federal authorities’ efforts to deport illegal immigrants.
Trump signs executive order cracking down on sanctuary cities
Kelly Ayot of New Hampshire will sign two bills to law on May 22, 2025, banning the state capitol in Concord, New Hampshire. (Fox News – Paulsteinhauser)
Ayot, a former state attorney general who later represented New Hampshire for six years in the US Senate, made the sanctuary city a key component of his success as governor in 2024. The slogan of Ayotte’s campaign was “Don’t make New Hampshire big” because it targeted Massachusetts’ more generous immigration policies.
“I campaigned to make sure there are no sanctuary cities here in New Hampshire. Illegal immigration crisisThe governor said in an exclusive national digital interview with Fox News.
Ayotte said that she “advocates legal immigration, but if people are not following our laws, we need to enforce the law, which is about public safety.”
“New Hampshire ranks among the safest states in the country and we were pleased to sign a bill banning sanctuaries and confirm that we will continue to do so,” the governor added.
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The two bills were passed in state legislatures controlled primarily by the GOP along the party line.
Senator Bill Ganon, the top sponsor of the state senator, said the measure “will make us a safer place to raise jobs, lives and families.”
And Rep. Joe Sweeney, sponsor of Lead House, said, “We’re removing hand cuffs from law enforcement officers and they will be able to work with our federal government, ice, to handcuff illegal aliens for crimes that violate our laws and violate them.”
president Donald Trump He repeatedly targeted sanctuary cities as the issue of illegal immigration became a key element of his successful 2024 campaign to reclaim the White House.
And last month, Trump signed an executive order that puts the muscles behind his threat to pull federal funds from the sanctuary city.
Some New Hampshire Democrats who opposed the measure pointed to Trump’s efforts in the country’s capital.
What Ayott told Fox News about security
“This bill would make our nation an aspiring accomplice against a group of politically manufactured people of state terrorism, pose as it allows law enforcement in New Hampshire to support federal immigration efforts.
New Hampshire’s government, Kelly Ayott, is highlighting its position as the country’s safest state as it signs two bills banning sanctuary cities on May 22, 2025 at the Capitol in Concord, New Hampshire. (Fox News – Paulsteinhauser)
But Ayotte asked about the lack of support from the two bills’ political aisles, saying, “I don’t know where I’m in these policies.”
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According to the New Hampshire Municipal Association, Sanctuary City The state describes a small number of cities and towns in the state as “welcome cities” that encourage a welcoming environment for all, regardless of race, ethnicity or origin.
However, state Republican lawmakers pointed to the fact that they have identified them as welcoming or sanctuary cities across 9-12 cities and towns in New Hampshire for many years.
