By ANI FREEDMAN, InDepthNH.org
In response to recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Keene, the city hosted a council workshop Monday evening to address questions, help residents understand what transpired, and hear concerns as immigration remains a source of tensions statewide.
“I think the transparency that we are giving to this community this evening ought to be informative to other cities and towns in our state who might be experiencing similar kinds of visits as we had last week,” Mayor Jay Kahn said as the meeting began.
Keene Police Chief Steve Stewart offered little clarification about what transpired when ICE agents arrived and inquired about potential illegal immigrants in the community, but former state Representative Joe Schapiro remarked that three Keene residents were arrested.
City Attorney Amanda Palmera served to clarify how federal law impacts the city and immigration activity, explaining that states have no legal footing to interfere, ignore, or disobey federal law. She pointed to President Trump’s executive orders which double down on immigration enforcement, as well as New Hampshire’s law passed last year by Gov. Kelly Ayotte banning sanctuary cities and boosting cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
“ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies have jurisdiction and authority to enforce laws anywhere within the United States of America,” Palmera said.
She also noted that Keene has not signed a 287(g) agreement, which enables ICE officers to deputize state and local law enforcement officers to perform federal immigration enforcement duties, as numerous other cities across the state have including Pittsfield, Newton, Milton, and Kingston.
“Every person that we deal with, regardless of immigration status, is going to be treated with fairness and respect, and with as much dignity as each situation will allow,” police chief Stewart said.
Published reports indicated three people were taken into custody by ICE, but there were no details available about who was taken or why.
He added that they will never ask victims or witnesses of crimes their immigration status, however they will comply with ICE requests for information on certain residents and will respond to emergency assistance as needed.
“It has been really painful in the past week especially. Some of the families that I know and love have gone into hiding,” said Hancock resident Steve Shook, who volunteers with Spanish-speaking families in the Monadnock region. “They feel absolutely terrorized by what happened.”
For 90 minutes, residents stepped up to the microphone to express outrage and concerns about what the recent ICE activity could mean for the future of Keene. Evan John of Troy — a town that has signed a 287(g) agreement to support immigration enforcement — said he worries about the area turning into a “police state.”
“I can’t think of a time when I have been more frightened,” Keene resident Sandra Whippey said, noting she just turned 90 recently.
“In all the years I taught school, things are very different now,” she said. “It concerns me that our families, particularly immigrant families are literally frightened to be in our community—and they have reason to be.”
Former state Representative Steve Lindsey spoke up as well, as the former neighbor of one of the Keene residents who was reportedly taken into ICE custody.
“I’ve never seen people try to fulfill the American dream as much as he did. He did more than I ever did for this country,” Lindsey said. He went on to explain how his area of town was known for drug and narcotics activity, but the man who was abducted helped to install street lights to deter it.
“He was improving our community until this situation erupted. I would speak the highest of him,” Lindsey added.
City manager Elizabeth Ferland pointed to the state’s anti-sanctuary city law as complicating how cities like Keene can address concerns about immigration enforcement. She also emphasized her conviction in the local police department, which she doesn’t see as the issue in Keene.
“It is incumbent upon each of us as citizens to overthrow an unjust and immoral government,” council member Michele Chalice said.
“What’s happening right now is impacting our local economy,” council member Catherine Workman said. “People are not coming to Keene because they have to go through Troy.”
She added it also impacts enrollment at local colleges that serve international students.
Mayor Kahn has noted that several city employers have reached out to him concerned about how ICE activity could impact their businesses and the local economy.
“We need to see changes that will help to have these things not to happen in the future,” council member Thomas Powers said. “The council will do what’s right. I don’t know that tonight we’re going to know what’s right. But I think the community knows we will address it, and we will address it in the right way.”
Ferland said she hoped the council could come to a consensus to help decide what actions to take after they return from recess.