Tell NH Lawmakers: Oppose All Anti-Immigrant Bills

Right now, New Hampshire state representatives are considering several harmful anti-immigrant policies that would isolate, take away the basic rights of, and even criminalize immigrants of all backgrounds in the Granite State and expend massive amounts of state resources that could be better dedicated to communities and real issues that need them most.

HB 461 would prevent people who are not native English speakers from accessing a driver's license by prohibiting the DMV from providing testing materials in any language other than English. Despite federal law that bars discrimination and requires access for people with limited English proficiency, this new bill is attempting to further isolate immigrants in New Hampshire and will make our roadways less safe.

Two of the bills, SB 62 and SB 71, would effectively force our local New Hampshire police to do the federal government's bidding as it pertains to immigration enforcement. Specifically, SB 71 would force our local police to essentially act as ICE officers, and potentially further expose New Hampshire schools to federal immigration enforcement. This would not only cost New Hampshire taxpayers, but would destroy relationships between local police departments and the communities they serve.

SB 62 would engage local police in both enforcement and the detention of individuals who a federal agent wants held through participation in the 287(g) program - an immigration enforcement and detention program plagued by racial profiling and civil rights violations. This would eliminate local government control, and further bar any input or discretion, even community discussion, around the issue of police taking on federal immigration work.

The final bill, SB 13, would invalidate the driver's licenses of undocumented people from other states. This means it would needlessly ensnare many undocumented immigrants who drive across state lines into New Hampshire, even if they have a valid driver's license in another state. Immigrants – like many of us – need to be able to drive and if they enter New Hampshire with a driver's license that is valid in another state, then they deserve the ability to move freely and care for their families without fear of arrest or deportation.