At a public hearing on November 3, Hanover residents expressed overwhelming opposition to a proposed revision of the town’s policing ordinance that would bring it into compliance with a new state law banning sanctuary cities. Of the 13 community members who spoke during the session, 12 urged the Selectboard not to adopt the changes.
The proposed revision would require the Hanover Police Department to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, including honoring detention requests for undocumented individuals. This adjustment would effectively end Hanover’s status as a sanctuary community.
Town Manager Robert Houseman introduced the revised language to align with House Bill 511, signed into law by Governor Kelly Ayotte on May 22. The legislation threatens to withhold 25 percent of state funding from municipalities that do not comply by January 1, 2026. For Hanover, that loss would total approximately $354,000, representing 2.5 percent of the town’s annual budget.
In a statement to The Dartmouth, Houseman outlined three possible responses: preserve the existing ordinance, amend it to conform to the state law, or repeal it entirely. He labeled the latter two options as “low risk” compared to retaining the current policy, which could place the town in violation of state law.
Public opposition at the hearing focused broadly on moral concerns and the implications of cooperating with ICE. Susan Borne called compliance with H.B. 511 “essentially appeasement” and “enabling authoritarianism.” Dena Romero framed the issue within a national context, warning that the ordinance change could reflect an acceptance of federal policies that she believes undermine democratic principles.
Robert Keene criticized the operations of ICE under recent federal directives and questioned whether local law enforcement would support such actions. “I don’t think there’s a policeman in this town with the heart to do what ICE is doing,” he said. “Avoid this wordsmithing mess and stick to your guns.”
Several speakers emphasized that the moral cost outweighed the financial risk. Bear Barnes encouraged the town to take a stand, saying Hanover could afford to resist the state’s demand. Others pointed to the limited practical consequences of the existing policy. According to Houseman, there have been no ICE sightings or detainment requests in Hanover since 2014.
One dissenting voice, resident Will Carney, questioned the ordinance’s relevance in practice. Carney said he believed few if any immigrants would seek refuge in Hanover due to its high cost of living, and he urged the Selectboard to make limited changes to avoid legal and financial repercussions. He criticized what he saw as selectivity in the town’s inclusive messaging, saying, “No one’s welcome in Hanover. Money is welcome in Hanover.”
Hanover legal counsel Laura Spector-Morgan advised the Selectboard that the town likely could not prevail in a legal challenge to H.B. 511 and would almost certainly face penalties if it maintained its current policy in defiance of the law.
Selectboard members did not take immediate action and agreed to revisit the issue at their next meeting on November 17. Chair Carey Callaghan proposed holding another public hearing before moving forward with any decision regarding the ordinance.
Hanover Selectboard meetings are held every other Monday at 7 p.m. in the town offices on South Main Street and are open to the public.
