According to an official press release, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, along with Attorney General John M. Formella and Department of Safety Commissioner Robert L. Quinn, announced the establishment of the Northern Border Alliance Task Force. The Task Force, announced on October 19, 2023, will comprise state, county, and local law enforcement officers with the primary aim of reducing crime and illicit activities along the state's northern border with Canada. It will also focus on responding to all kinds of threats and hazards and acting upon criminal intelligence.
Governor Sununu lambasted the federal government for their inaction and funding cuts. "They cut funding, limited our resources, and have thrown their hands up," Sununu said. As per the press release, encounters with individuals on the terrorist watch list at the land border ports of entry along the northern border have doubled since 2017.
The program will be funded by a grant of $1,435,384 from the Department of Safety. These funds are available to various law enforcement agencies, including the New Hampshire State Police, Forest Rangers, and Fish and Game Department. According to Attorney General Formella, the Task Force aims to add 10,000 patrol hours near the border through June 30, 2025. "Given the rural nature, expansive geography, and sparse population of northern Coos County, local law enforcement resources are extremely limited," Formella stated.
Officers who participate in the Task Force will serve under the general supervision of the Attorney General's Office and will have authority within 25 air miles of the Canadian border. They will be able to enforce all state criminal laws and cooperate with federal law enforcement in immigration-related crimes.
The initiative will be rolled out in two phases. The first phase, which will begin immediately, will involve participation from the State Police. The second phase is expected to begin on November 16, 2023, after the approval of the Northern Border Alliance Program rules. This will allow county and local law enforcement agencies to join the Task Force.
