Maggie Fogarty is the NH program director for the American Friends Service Committee. She lives in Dover. Grace Kindeke, an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the AFSC-NH program coordinator. She lives in Manchester.

It’s 2024, and New Hampshire is abuzz with political journalists and campaign workers, descending on the Granite State from all directions, braving the elements to play their part in a beloved New Hampshire tradition.

That’s right, it’s time for the 2024 presidential primaries. And this year all the candidates, including both our current and former president, are vying for who can appear most anti-immigrant while doing the least to meet anyone’s basic needs.

As we enter this election season, immigration is wielded as a political issue, rather than an issue of humanity and care for our neighbors. Congress has been stalled for years, unable to make meaningful changes to our immigration policies that would ensure opportunities for people to enter the U.S. with and maintain lawful immigration status. Instead, we have seen harmful proposals like discriminatory employment verification, border militarization, denial of asylum rights, and mass detention sites, which have separated families, eroded legal protections, and promoted exploitation, racism and violence.

Here in New Hampshire, some of our politicians have also doubled down on anti-immigrant policies. In 2023, lawmakers chose to include $1.4 million in non-lapsing funds for a border enforcement program that will engage local, county and state police in border patrol activities at the state’s 58-mile border with Canada.

Instead of increasing investments in key areas such as affordable childcare and expanded broadband service to communities in the northern half of the state, lawmakers decided to throw money at a manufactured border crisis and introduce additional barriers for immigrants to work and drive in the state.

If you’ve spent time in Coos County lately, you’ve probably noticed an excessive number of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicles, as well as those of various law enforcement agencies. You might have seen them driving along on roads in desperate need of repair, past homes of families struggling to make ends meet, past underfunded schools and under-resourced social service agencies.

Eight of the ten leading causes of death in our state are diseases and medical conditions. The other two are accidents and suicide. Anyone who tries to tell you our biggest concern is immigration is fanning the flames of xenophobia to distract from the real and urgent needs of rural and low-income communities.

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Fortunately, many in New Hampshire aren’t buying it. In last year’s state budget, legislators passed a 12% wage increase for state workers; a seven-year reauthorization for expanded Medicaid; an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates; Medicaid eligibility for some immigrants; a public notification requirement in advance of immigration checkpoints; restoration of the Education Trust fund and increased aid for school districts; critical investments in childcare and affordable housing; full funding for the Alcohol Abuse, Prevention and Treatment Fund; inclusion of the Healthy Aging System of Care; and a much smaller appropriation of funds for a new prison than was originally proposed by the governor.

Despite what the presidential candidates would have us believe, the needs of people born in the U.S. are not at odds with those born elsewhere. We all need safe and secure housing, access to safe workplaces, food, education, and health care. When each member of our community has these basic human needs met, all members of the community benefit.

In New Hampshire and across the country we need to reject the toxic rhetoric of any politician, from any party, who tries to convince us that borders and banishment can solve our problems. We can welcome courageous people from around the world who have made the challenging decision to leave their homes in search of safety, security, and stable lives. In our cities, towns, and rural areas, immigrants make up the fabric of our communities, as they have throughout our history.

So, if you happen to see Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump or surrogates for President Biden holding court at one of our diners, coffee shops or town halls, please remind them that New Hampshire is a place where we take care of each other, rather than tear each other down.