Gov. Chris Sununu wants to send soldiers from the New Hampshire National Guard to Eagle Pass, Texas, to aid with immigration enforcement efforts at the nation’s southern border.
The move comes amid ongoing tension between Texas and the federal government over the southern border — and a growing emphasis on security at the state’s northern border from New Hampshire Republicans, even as data shows crossings along the boundary with Canada are relatively rare.
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Texas to grant U.S. border patrol agents access to an area where migrants were crossing the border, after Texas put up razor wire to block federal officials. And last week, Republicans in the U.S. Senate scuttled a bipartisan plan, backed by the Biden administration, aimed at bolstering border security.
Sununu is now asking New Hampshire lawmakers to spend $850,000 to send 15 National Guard soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border. If deployed, they would be on active duty for up to 90 days under the direction of the Texas National Guard.
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“Simply stated, in the absence of a willingness at the federal level to secure our border, states (both individually and collectively) must undertake efforts to protect the safety of their citizens,” Sununu wrote in a letter to the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee Tuesday.
The Fiscal Committee will take up the governor’s request on Friday. If approved, it would be the second time New Hampshire has deployed troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, after more than 150 troops were sent there in October 2022.
Sununu made his own visit to Eagle Pass earlier this month, where he and other Republican governors joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for a press conference on that state’s efforts to secure its border with Mexico.
“I give Texas all the credit in the world,” Sununu later told New Hampshire reporters. “They’ve spent over a billion dollars of their own general fund dollars to do what the federal government isn’t doing. A billion dollars. Can you imagine that?”
Sununu and other Republican governors have also written to the Biden administration to argue that Texas has a constitutional right to defend its border and stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
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Border enforcement has become a major priority for Sununu, who successfully pushed lawmakers to spend $1.4 million to boost security along New Hampshire’s 58-mile boundary with Canada.
Sununu has repeatedly called the situation along the U.S.-Canada border a “crisis.”
But recently released federal data shows there were 21 encounters or apprehensions along the state’s northern border between October 2022 and December 2023.
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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