Samantha Menard
Senior Reporter
According to InDepthNH, three Keene residents were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] a few weeks ago, with little to no information provided regarding who they were. This follows Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s signing of House Bill 511 and Senate Bill 62, which banned sanctuary cities in New Hampshire.
Mayor Jay Kahn released a statement on Aug. 11 in response to community-wide concern, stating he “understands the anxiety and fear” that people could be targeted due to their skin color or speech accents, and he “wanted to hear from those affected” if it occurred in Keene.
In addition to the concern expressed by area residents, some students at Keene State College feel similarly. Senior Charlotte McDaniel said she views ICE as “barbaric and unfair.”
“This is Keene, New Hampshire… What are they trying to stop here? The ‘violent’ crime?” she said. “I think ICE is being used as a way to wield power over people with not much of their own.”
Junior Aiden Blakney said that while he was unaware of the recent ICE sightings, he felt it could be “scary for those who could be affected by it.” He said, “You never expect it to be your own backyard. It’s crazy to hear that they were so close.”
“Fear can definitely be spread. I mean they’re [ICE] doing their job, but I also don’t know if they really need to be in a place like this,” Blakney said. He continued, “People coming from other countries may be confused by all of the rules and regulations, and could be thinking of their school visa, and if ICE would even care about that. They might just be seen [by ICE] for what they look like.”
He added that campus was a place where students felt comfortable, and it might now be “somewhere they’re afraid of what’s happening around them.”
Junior Grace Hillerby, an international student, said she found the ICE sightings “terrifying.”
“When I got here, they told us to be careful and bring all of our documentation. It’s scary, because I thought this was a nice, quiet town. I think they [ICE] are really off-putting for everyone. You want to feel safe, but how are you supposed to? People from certain demographics might turn away from [the school] because of it,” Hillerby said.
First-year Monty Hansen said they were “absolutely livid” about ICE’s presence. In regard to how KSC might be perceived following the arrests, Hansen said incoming or current students “might view it as dangerous”.
Hansen added that they felt it was “odd” that ICE showed up in Keene of all places, as it is a small town in New Hampshire.
Following the arrests, Kahn hosted an open city council meeting on Aug. 17, where residents were invited to speak. According to NHPR, over 200 residents showed up to Keene City Hall and a discussion ensued for about three hours.
During the meeting, Kahn said that he would work with the city manager, chief of police and a legislative delegation to “figure out what local government is able to do.” He also said the city would “consider sharing resources and information” with residents affected by ICE.
Samantha Menard can be contacted at
smenard@kscequinox.com
