CONCORD, N.H. — A new billboard in Manchester reflects one of the key issues unfolding this election cycle: immigration.
Arrests for illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border reached a record high at the end of 2023, and although arrests plummeted in 2024, Republicans and Democrats Both candidates continue to discuss their plans. to deal with the problem. New Hampshire politicians, including gubernatorial candidates, are also expressing their opinions on the illegal immigration issue.
The topic has also sparked racist and xenophobic comments, including claims from former President Donald Trump accusing immigrants of causing chaos and calling them “animals.” , that kind of rhetoric is unsettling some immigrant communities ahead of the election.
The Manchester billboard is intended to contradict this message. New Hampshire is one of six states targeted by a new campaign launched in October by the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker peace organization.
Get the NH Morning Report
A weekday newsletter that delivers the NH news you need to know straight to your inbox.
“Welcoming Immigrants Makes the Granite State Stronger,” reads a sign on Elm Street in downtown Manchester, near the Southern New Hampshire University Arena. The sign has red and black text on a white background.
“Our hope with this ad campaign is that hundreds of thousands of people in New Hampshire, and millions of people across the country, welcome immigrants into their communities and promote dignity and respect. “It’s about getting them motivated to enact policies that do that,” said Maggie Fogarty. AFSC’s New Hampshire program director said in a statement.
Overall, about 7 percent of New Hampshire residents immigrated from other countries, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Manchester is one of the most diverse cities in the state. The city of about 115,000 people is one of the resettled locations for refugees in the state. Between 2012 and 2021, it became home to about 1,170 refugees, the Granite State News Collaborative reported.
About 83% of New Hampshire residents say illegal immigration is a very serious or somewhat serious problem for the United States, according to a March poll from the University of New Hampshire. But Granite State residents were less concerned when asked about the impact on their community, with only 34 percent saying it was a very or somewhat serious problem in their town. Almost all Republicans think this is a serious problem, and 67% of Democrats agree.
The AFSC campaign will also be implemented in New Jersey, Colorado, Florida, California, and Oregon.
This article first appeared in The Globe Rhode Island Food Club, a free weekly email newsletter about Rhode Island food and dining. Already a club member? Check your inbox for the latest newsletter news, recipes, and features. Not a member yet? If you’d like to receive it by email every Thursday, you can sign up here.
Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. follow her @amanda_gokee.
