Durham, Portsmouth consider becoming sanctuary cities

At their town council meetings February 6, both Durham and Portsmouth discussed becoming sanctuary cities.

Such cities choose not to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, providing “sanctuary” for illegal/undocumented immigrants.

Residents in Durham and Portsmouth contacted their local officials about becoming sanctuary cities after President Donald Trump instituted a ban on refugees and travelers from seven majority Muslim countries.

Right now no town or city in New Hampshire is officially a sanctuary city.  However, local law enforcement generally does not pursue immigration law offenders; that is left to federal law enforcement.

Some officials in Durham and Portsmouth are concerned that the only significant impact of adopting a sanctuary city policy will be a loss of federal funding.  Trump has said he will cut federal funding for any sanctuary cities.

In 2016 the New Hampshire Legislature killed a bill that would have banned sanctuary cities in New Hampshire, in large part because there are no official sanctuary cities in New Hampshire. 

Would you support your hometown becoming a sanctuary city?  Share your thoughts in the comments.