Tancredo: Lock up N.H. reps

Share this

• Email
• Comments (0)
• Print

If presidential candidate Tom Tancredo had his way, New Hampshire lawmakers behind an immigration bill would be thrown out of office and prosecuted for helping illegal immigrants.

"If they actually implemented it, you bet. It's aiding and abetting. I think that's a pretty clear violation of the federal law," he said yesterday of the bill, which would prohibit state and local authorities from enforcing federal immigration laws.

Tancredo, a Colorado congressman who has staked his campaign for president on his vehement opposition to illegal immigration, acknowledged that legal obstacles likely would prevent prosecuting state lawmakers over legislation. Otherwise, "I'd be more than willing to pursue it," he said. Mayors and city councilors who adopt "sanctuary city" policies also should face criminal charges, he said.

Tancredo supports building a fence along the border with Mexico and strictly enforcing existing immigration laws, including deporting all illegal immigrants. He believes so-called sanctuary policies provide safe havens for gangs, drug dealers, rapists and murderers.

Visiting Concord ahead of an evening debate of Republican candidates at the University of New Hampshire, Tancredo dove into state politics, demanding the ouster of the bill's sponsors - Democratic Reps. Lily Mesa of Manchester and Susi Nord of Candia - though he did not mention them by name. He also urged Gov. John Lynch to speak out against the bill.

"It is a terrible idea, and we need the governor to say something about it, for instance: 'I will veto any attempt to make New Hampshire a sanctuary state,' " Tancredo said.

Lynch spokesman Colin Manning pointed out that the bill is all but dead. "It's not an issue," Manning said.

David Frydman, legal counsel to the New Hampshire House, said lawmakers are protected from criminal prosecution over legislation. "The role of creating laws and passing laws are left to legislators by the state constitution, and they can't be prosecuted," he said.

Immigration activists said Tancredo distorted the bill and the character of its sponsors.

"He is attacking two courageous legislators who have stood up for immigrant rights, and he also misrepresented the bill," activist Judy Elliott said. "It would not shield criminals."

"I'm just flattered that a candidate for president thinks that attacking me, a first-term volunteer legislator, can help his campaign," Nord said. "I think we all agree that immigration in our country is broken and it needs to be fixed, and all (this bill) was trying to do was prevent racial profiling of New Hampshire residents."

The bill would ban state and local law enforcement agencies from accepting or using state money, equipment, personnel and resources solely to apprehend suspected illegal immigrants or to enforce federal immigration laws. It was introduced in January but never made it out of committee. Lawmakers are expected to vote on it in January 2008, after the Legislature convenes for the new session.

Mesa has said she introduced the bill after hearing reports that Manchester residents were being stopped by police officers and asked for documents, based on their appearance or accent. She did not fashion it as a comment on illegal immigration, she has said. Mesa did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment yesterday.

Conservative lawmakers and some local and federal law enforcement officials have opposed the bill, saying it would prevent the local police from assisting federal authorities and detecting terrorist threats.

In New Hampshire, debate flared over local agencies' authority over federal immigration policy two years ago, after police officers in two towns charged illegal immigrants with criminal trespassing. A district court judge dismissed the charges, ruling they were unconstitutional. New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte declined to appeal the decision and asked local police chiefs not to prosecute illegal immigrants simply for being in their towns. (next page »)