New Hampshire Republicans are using a land tax law to target northern border crossings

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Police in northern New Hampshire would be allowed to bring trespassing charges against people suspected of illegally entering the U.S. from Canada under a bill approved by the state Senate on Thursday.

The legislation, which now goes to the House, was requested by Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who created a task force last year to patrol along the state’s roughly 50-mile (80-kilometer) border with Canada.

The new proposal would make changes to a state law that gives tax breaks to landowners who agree to preserve open space and allow public use of their property. Those property owners would be allowed to post signs that say “No trespass except for skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, hunting, hiking, or nature observation.” The grounds for criminal trespassing would be expanded to include violating that provision, as well as committing human trafficking or drug crimes on someone else’s property.

Sen. Daryl Abbas, a Republican from Salem, said the goal was to give local law enforcement another tool to protect both the border and property owners.

“This state has seen the consequences of open border policies with the import of illegal substances like fentanyl flowing across the border,” he said. “And this piece of legislation is a strong step the state can take to protect our citizens.”

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