Residents urge Portsmouth Council to reject cooperation with ICE enforcement

At the Portsmouth City Council meeting on April 21, 2025, the spotlight was on immigration policy as residents urged local leaders to reject cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sarah Cornell, a homeowner and activist, passionately called on the council and police department to refuse to partner with ICE, citing concerns over due process and human rights violations.

Cornell highlighted the implications of New Hampshire House Bill 511, which would mandate municipal cooperation with ICE, and expressed her fears that such laws could undermine the rights of all residents, regardless of their immigration status. "When anyone's right to due process is suspended, so is yours," she warned, emphasizing the potential dangers of allowing ICE to operate freely within the city.

Kendra Ford, a Unitarian Universalist minister and community advocate, echoed Cornell's sentiments, sharing alarming instances of wrongful detentions, including a U.S. citizen held by ICE despite presenting valid citizenship documents. Ford urged the council to take a stand against ICE, stating, "To cooperate with ICE is to say that we agree that anyone can be detained and potentially deported."

Both speakers called for a public statement from the council affirming Portsmouth's commitment to protecting its residents from federal immigration enforcement. Their appeals reflect a growing concern among community members about the impact of federal policies on local safety and civil rights.

As the council considers these urgent requests, the discussions signal a pivotal moment for Portsmouth, where the balance between local governance and federal immigration enforcement is increasingly under scrutiny.