NH gives protections to border patrol

Last Thursday, May 19 the New Hampshire Legislature passed a bill that gives legal protections to federal border patrol agents operating in New Hampshire.

The bill, HB 1298, was originally written to address property damage from snow mobiles and OHRVs.  The Senate amended the bill to give border patrol agents the power to make arrests under state law in Coos County.  The bill also gives border patrol agents the same liability protections as state law enforcement.

Bill supporters noted that border patrol agents already provide assistance to state and local law enforcement in the North Country.

"In situations of life and death in the North Country, when local or state law enforcement may be an hour away, it is the Border Patrol agents that selflessly comes to our aid," said Sen. Jeff Woodburn. "We can't continue to ask these men and women to risk their lives without providing them the legal protections they need."

Opponents are concerned that federal agents will have too much power if they are allowed to arrest New Hampshire citizens under state laws. 

An alternative to giving border patrol agents more power would be increasing the number of state law enforcement officers in Coos County.

Gov. Maggie Hassan has indicated she will sign the bill.

UPDATE: Read our Citizen Voices℠ report and find out where New Hampshire stands on this issue.