On February 27, Governor Kelly Ayotte released the following statement regarding New Hampshire law enforcement agencies cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through agreements under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act:

“It is critical for state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities and protect our citizens. Criminals who are in our country illegally and pose a danger should be apprehended and removed. I support and encourage New Hampshire law enforcement agencies to cooperate with ICE to enforce our laws and keep our communities safe.”

New Hampshire Department of Safety Commissioner Robert L. Quinn added the following statement:

“We are pleased to see that the federal government is interested in reinstating the task force model, which would grant both legal authority and protection to our State Troopers when they encounter individuals in the United States illegally. This agreement will strengthen our longstanding partnerships with federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies, including efforts tied to our state-run Northern Border Alliance program. It also helps ensure New Hampshire’s law enforcement officers can act swiftly to remove dangerous criminals and keep our communities the safest in the Nation.”

Belknap County Sheriff Bill Wright released the following statement after submitting his agency’s 287(g) application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

“The Belknap County Sheriff’s office has submitted our application to enter a 287(g) agreement with ICE. We will do our part to protect our communities and continue to help enforce our laws. Coordinating with our federal partners helps keep both our officers and our state safe, and I thank Governor Ayotte for her support and leadership.”