Patrick Lane: Why are only undocumented workers punished and not their employers?

To The Daily Sun,

The Belknap County Sheriff’s Department has entered into an agreement with ICE to effectively serve as ICE deputies, enforcing federal law (rather than state law).

I was surprised to hear this. I have frequently heard law enforcement officers describe how understaffed and under resourced they are. However, the Belknap Sheriff apparently has so much time on its hands that it is looking for extra work to do and is committing resources to enforce federal laws, rather than state laws. The problem is that there are many institutions in the state that actually are underfunded and do need more resources, with schools being a great example in light of the ConVal ruling. The Belknap County Sheriff’s Department has shown us that they could absorb some cuts. They have more than enough time and people to enforce New Hampshire state laws, it would appear.

If the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department believes it is important to prioritize immigration enforcement over other laws, then it should focus on state laws. As many people have noted, immigration enforcement under the Trump administration is focused on arresting workers, with no repercussions for the employers who hire and exploit those workers (rather than pay legal workers a fair wage). In New Hampshire, it is a misdemeanor to hire undocumented workers under RSA 275-A. However, it appears that the Belknap Sheriff has never charged an employer under that statute for hiring an undocumented worker. How can that be? Are they protecting the rich special interests that hire these workers? Are they unserious about New Hampshire criminal laws? Before they look for new work to do, they should actually enforce the state laws they have been ignoring for decades.

Patrick Lane

Laconia