Patricia Utley

I’m reaching out as a resident of Ward 10 in Manchester and someone who works in the nonprofit sector. I’m deeply concerned about House Bill 635-FN, which unfairly targets nonprofits that assist immigrants, and I strongly urge you to oppose this legislation. Beyond the legal and logistical problems, I worry that this bill is based on misconceptions about immigration and a lack of understanding of how complex the system is—misconceptions that lead to harmful policies rather than real solutions. The Reality of Immigration Isn’t as Simple as Some Believe I’People assume that those who come here are deliberately evading legal channels, but that’s just not true. Many immigrants are actively following the process, but our system is filled with years-long backlogs, constantly changing policies, and roadblocks that even legal applicants struggle to navigate. • Seeking asylum is legal – Yet, under this bill, nonprofits providing housing or legal aid to asylum seekers could be penalized. • Many "illegal" immigrants once had legal status – Visas expire, green card applications stall, and even minor clerical errors can leave people in limbo. That doesn’t mean they’re criminals—it means they’re trapped in bureaucracy. Punishing nonprofits that help people navigate this broken system doesn’t fix anything—it just makes it harder for people to become legal residents or citizens in the first place and it takes resources away from everyone who needs them. This Bill is Legally and Ethically Problematic Beyond the flawed assumptions behind it, HB 635-FN raises serious legal and ethical concerns: • It’s too vague – The bill requires nonprofits to determine who is "illegal" based on what we “should have known.” How are we supposed to do that? Nonprofits aren’t immigration enforcement. We provide help—food, housing, legal aid—not investigations. • It encourages discrimination – The bounty system incentivizes vigilantism and false reports, creating a climate of fear where people could be targeted unfairly based on assumptions, not facts. • It likely violates federal law – Immigration is federal jurisdiction. State attempts to regulate nonprofits that assist immigrants have been struck down in court before. This could put New Hampshire at risk of legal challenges. Nonprofits Are Already Overburdened—This Bill Makes It Worse I work in the nonprofit sector, and I can tell you: we are already stretched thin. The work we do supports entire communities, not just immigrants—families facing housing instability, food insecurity, and lack of access to healthcare. This bill would force us to take on investigative responsibilities we are neither trained for nor legally authorized to do, pulling resources away from the people who need them most. Immigration policy should be informed and thoughtful, not reactionary and punitive. I urge you to oppose HB 635-FN and support policies that strengthen our communities rather than divide them. I appreciate your time and consideration, and I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss this further. Best, Patricia M. Utley