Manchester is not a formal sanctuary city. NH HB 1090 (2019) provides informal protection by limiting state cooperation with ICE detainers, but Manchester Police follow standard cooperation under NH RSA 651-B.
New Hampshire has no formal sanctuary cities. Manchester follows standard NH practice: police do not act as immigration agents but cooperate with federal ICE detainers when accompanied by judicial warrants under NH RSA 651-B and 4th Amendment requirements. NH HB 1090 (2019) provided informal protection by clarifying that local law enforcement is not obligated to enforce civil federal immigration law. NH HB 1283 (2024) attempted a sanctuary-city ban that did not pass. Manchester Police generally do not inquire about immigration status during routine encounters, victim/witness contact, or service calls, consistent with effective community policing principles.
Federal immigration violations are enforced by ICE/HSI, not Manchester Police. Local resistance to lawful judicial warrants would violate state cooperation duties.
See how Manchester's sanctuary policy preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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