Consternation and concern arose in me when I heard Grafton County Commissioner, Martha McLeod, make the following comments at the March 25th Grafton County Commissioners’ Meeting re: 287- G:
- Bad idea to cooperate with ICE
- We’re using our manpower & money
- Lots of costs
- Bad timing
- Won’t support it!
- Liability with Civil Rights violations
- Concern for public safety
- Division between law enforcement and immigrants
- President Trump’s Administration’s policies are arbitrary & inhumane
- I would fight against these policies
The immediate questions which came to mind were twofold: will the blood be on the hands of the Grafton County Commissioners if one of our legal Grafton County residents is robbed, raped, beaten, or murdered as is happening in other states throughout our country since the infusion of millions of illegal aliens and gang members into our country during the last 4 years? My other question was to perhaps postpone the building of a new courthouse, and use some of that money to fund the Sheriff’s Budget in order for her department to cooperate with ICE? Refer to Commissioner McLeod’s comments above, bullet #5 & bullet #10. [Related: Grafton County Commissioner – On ICE]
At this meeting were residents seemingly from southern Grafton County, especially Hanover, Claremont, and Lebanon. Others zoomed-in from other areas of Grafton County, but, again, what seemed to be locations in southern Grafton County, in particular.
This meeting strangely seems to have been “staged” under the guise of responding to “constituent concerns” re: identifying and retaining undocumented aliens in Grafton County under a Program entitled 287-G. I attend every Commissioners’ Meeting, read many local newspapers, and this huge gathering was a big surprise to me…16 in the room and many zoomed-in online. Unusual, sudden attendance!!
287-G, was enacted as part of the Illegal Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRAIRA) which is a program that allows state & local law enforcement agencies to partner with U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce federal immigration laws, deputizing local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions. 287-G was enacted in 1996 during the Administration of President Bill Clinton, and actions to end the program during the Administration of President Biden did not seek any cuts to the $24.3 million for the 287-G Program. (Google)
Under questioning by Grafton County Commissioner, Wendy Piper, to High Sheriff of Grafton County, Jill Myers, “…are you an elected official under the New Hampshire Constitution, and if you don’t do this [participation in 287-G], would you be fulfilling these (Constitutional) duties? High Sheriff Myers responded that “… she had to do this to meet her responsibilities.” The consensus is that the County High Sheriff has a legal obligation to follow the law.
At one point in the discussion, Commissioner Piper enunciated to Commissioner McLeod that she [McLeod] was using partisan rhetoric, which led to what seemingly was a heated exchange between the two Commissioners. In my opinion, this was a pretty exciting emotional exchange between these 2 Commissioners in what is normally a ”sleepy” series of weekly meetings! Yeow…catfight!!
At one point, Commissioner Piper stated that this was a “fact-finding mission.” Through observation over the past 10 months, I have found Commissioner Piper very astute and thoughtful in her method of questioning at these meetings. I queried to myself that Commissioner McLeod was “throwing her hat in the ring” perhaps for the Governorship of NH or maybe the position for Congress from CD-2, since both of these positions will be open in 2026?! Her comments and actions seemed to have all the markings of “grand-standing” and partisanship.
Under public comment, “N. De Mayo, thanked Sheriff Myers and Sgt. Adams for their straightforwardness and professionalism. He stated that he knows they will do a great job. He further stated that “…all the questions being asked [by the Commissioners] are moot because they [Sheriff’s Dept. personnel] have not had the training.” He added that “…The Administration’s [Trump Administration] policy is to keep them [and all Grafton County residents] safe.” In addition, De Mayo stated, “…we live in a ‘transitory county’ [with Rte 93 running north/south from Massachusetts to Canada, and Rte 91 in Vermont running north/south parallel to NH with bridges running east/west into NH.] “We do not know exactly who is in our county.” “They [Sheriff’s Dept. personnel and ICE agents] are protecting citizens who are here legally, and people who are undocumented should not be in our country.” My point: we are a viable route for illegal aliens to enter our state.
Under the current policies of President Trump and Governor Ayotte, we are not a sanctuary country nor a sanctuary state. Even a Middle-schooler, astute in History and Geography, knows that Grafton County is a landmass in the State of New Hampshire and that, my friend, is a geographic and political entity of the USA! Under President Trump’s Executive Order, Undocumented Aliens are to be deported. Under Governor Ayotte’s policies, New Hampshire is not Massachusetts!
Surely, the mainstream news networks are reporting these facts?!
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