Dear New Hampshire Congressional Delegation, including Sen. Shaheen, Sen. Hassan, Rep. Goodlander and Rep. Pappas: We are horrified at your collective support of the Laken Riley legislation.

It is the first piece of anti-immigrant legislation in the Trump administration’s quiver. It is the first of an onslaught on all immigrants. It is the first step in this administration’s attempt at a mass deportation effort. Our immigrant community largely is not a law-breaking community, and this legislation reinforces the belief that immigrants are criminals. With the enactment of this legislation, other immigrants, maybe even some who are citizens, will be arrested for deportation because of the color of their skin, the language they speak or the location where they were found.

You, our congressional delegates, have allowed our Constitutional right to due process to be tossed aside. This term, your first task should be to do everything in your power to protect our democracy. We consider due process essential to that democracy.

We beseech you not to play politics with our freedoms. We expect more of you than this.

Doris Hampton, Trudy Mott-Smith and Glen Ring

Canterbury, Loudon and Concord