U.S. Customs and Border Protection have set a temporary checkpoint base in New Hampshire along I-93 south.
The checkpoint is near Exit 30 in Woodstock, and is expected to be there until Thursday.
According to Concord Monitor, the Border Patrol notified Woodstock police department on Monday about the decision to set up the checkpoint.
This is the second time in a month that the border patrol have set up immigration checkpoints in NH. In August, the checkpoint led to the arrest of 25 immigrants who were handed over to the Manchester Immigration and Customs Enforcement field officers.
The three day August swoop also nabbed 15 US citizens who were found in possession of illegal substances, including two pounds of marijuana and smaller amounts of cocaine. Suspects were detained by border patrol until Woodstock police arrived to make the arrests.
NH new law decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana went into effect on Sept. 16, and could reduce such cases of arrests.
Woodstock police Chief Ryan Oleson said the checkpoints have been happening for several decades, but they appear new because there had been none since 2012.
Woodstock police distanced themselves from the crackdown, arguing that they’re exclusively conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection unit.
“It has nothing to do with us,” said Woodstock police Chief Ryan Oleson.
Members of the public expressed concerns on the checkpoint being set up so far from NH-Canada border.
According to ACLU, federal regulations give U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authority to operate within 100 miles of any U.S. “external boundary.” In this 100-mile zone, Border Patrol agents have certain extra-Constitutional powers including operating immigration checkpoints.
