Fact-checking New Hampshire’s governor race: Did Joyce Craig oppose a bill banning sanctuary cities?

Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, the Republican nominee for New Hampshire governor, has been seeking to draw a distinction with her Democratic opponent, former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, over immigration. 

One issue Ayotte has focused on is sanctuary cities, an unofficial term for jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with federal immigration officials.

During a Sep. 25 debate sponsored by the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, Ayotte cited debate over a bill in the Legislature to prevent New Hampshire municipalities from becoming sanctuary cities.

"When Mayor Craig said we’re not a sanctuary state, she went up in the legislature and there was a bill to basically create a ban to make sure we never become a sanctuary state, that no locality passes those regulations and she opposed that bill," Ayotte said.

Craig did oppose the bill, but Ayotte’s assertion needs some context.

PolitiFact and WMUR-TV are partnering to fact-check claims in the 2024 New Hampshire gubernatorial race.

There is no official definition or list of sanctuary cities, and there isn't a one-size-fits-all sanctuary policy. Broadly, jurisdictions are described as sanctuary cities when they have policies that restrict state or local police from assisting federal immigration officers; stop local or state officials from inquiring into a person's immigration status; or restrict information sharing between local or state law enforcement and federal authorities.

Ayotte is referring to a 2023 bill, S.B. 132, which "prohibits any state or local government entity from establishing sanctuary policies." It defines "sanctuary policies" as prohibiting cooperation with "the enforcement of federal immigration laws."

On May 24, 2023, the House Municipal and County Government Committee considered the bill after the Republican-controlled Senate passed it on a party-line vote. 

Craig’s name is on a committee list of individuals who opposed the bill.

Craig’s campaign told PolitiFact that she opposed the bill in solidarity with law enforcement, particularly Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg, who testified against the bill in person at the House committee hearing. 

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Craig’s campaign said law enforcement officials told her that the bill would infringe on local control, require local police to do the federal government’s work without additional money, training or compliance, and jeopardize relationships between law enforcement and immigrant communities.

Sheriffs from Cheshire and Strafford counties and police chiefs from Hollis, Dover, Portsmouth, Nashua, Merrimack and Hudson joined Aldenberg in opposing the proposed measure, according to a letter they sent to the committee. 

The New Hampshire Municipal Association, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire and immigrant advocacy groups also opposed the bill.

During the Nashua Chamber of Commerce debate, Craig responded to Ayotte’s comment by saying that the bill is one "that I was with my police chief there supporting (him). I will always do whatever I need to do to make sure our communities are safe. ... I have always supported our community members and (have made) sure they have an opportunity to succeed, and that’s exactly what I will do as governor."

Craig may have opposed S.B. 132, but she’s said she’s comfortable with the federal cooperation her city maintains with federal immigration officials.

Manchester’s policies on these issues have been in place since 2011, after being enacted under a Republican mayor. According to Aldenberg’s testimony, the city does not ask people about their immigration status when they are victims, witnesses or juveniles, or during routine traffic stops, medical transports or domestic violence complaints. Aldenberg said this is done so that people know that "they can come to the police for help without the threat of being deported."

Beyond these cases, however, the Manchester police work with federal immigration officials. They will cooperate if officers believe someone under arrest for a felony or a violent misdemeanor may be in the country illegally. "And this does happen," he testified. "We do call (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in these circumstances."

Craig’s campaign said in a statement to PolitiFact that she "has never advocated changing Manchester’s police policies on this issue."

And in the Nashua debate, Craig said, "New Hampshire is not a sanctuary state and it will not be a sanctuary state when I am governor."

Ayotte said, "There was a bill to basically create a ban to make sure we never become a sanctuary state, that no locality passes those regulations" and Craig "opposed that bill."

Craig opposed a 2023 bill that would have prohibited "any state or local government entity from establishing sanctuary policies," alongside Manchester’s police chief and other law enforcement officials.

However, Ayotte’s remark glossed over Craig’s support for her city’s 13-year-old policy, which includes cooperation with federal immigration officials when people are arrested in the city for felonies and violent misdemeanors. Craig has also said she would not turn New Hampshire into a sanctuary state if elected.

We rate the statement Mostly True.