New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Presses DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on Future ICE Facilities in NH

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, alongside Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), are pushing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to definitively rule out developing any ICE facilities in New Hampshire without state and local support.

Earlier this week, Senator Hassan met with Merrimack town officials to discuss how to ensure that DHS does not restart its planned Merrimack facility or pursue plans for a facility elsewhere in New Hampshire. While DHS recently confirmed that it was not moving forward with its planned project in Merrimack, the agency refused to rule out the potential of restarting the project and refused to provide any information about whether it was pursuing plans elsewhere in New Hampshire.

"Last week, in response to congressional inquiries, ICE stated that the agency is not moving forward with plans for a facility at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack at this time. However, ICE explicitly refused to comment on any other plans for ICE facilities in New Hampshire," wrote the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation. "The people of New Hampshire have clearly and repeatedly voiced their concerns regarding potential new ICE facilities in the Granite State... While the plans for this specific proposed facility have now been paused, we continue to have strong concerns that DHS has or may develop other plans for a new ICE facility in New Hampshire without listening to and accounting for the concerns of Granite Staters."

In their letter, the Congressional Delegation pushed Secretary Noem to publicly provide any sites that it has evaluated for use as an ICE facility, in Merrimack or elsewhere in New Hampshire, as well as the current status of its plan, and a commitment from DHS that it will not develop or operate these facilities unless it obtains the support of local leadership, including state and local elected officials as well as law enforcement and emergency services.

The New Hampshire Congressional Delegation has continued to push the Department of Homeland Security to listen to local voices when it comes to the development of ICE facilities. The Delegation repeatedly highlighted for Secretary Noem the local concerns with its planned facility in Merrimack, which resulted in the cancelation of the project. Additionally, Senator Hassan directly pushed the Acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons about these plans, telling him that the town did not want the detention center, and therefore, ICE should cancel it. Additionally, the New Hampshire delegation introduced bicameral legislation requiring DHS to solicit public comments and receive written approval from state and local officials before constructing, acquiring, or operating any new ICE facility.

Click here to read the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation's letter to Secretary Noem, or see below:

Dear Secretary Noem:

We write today to seek information about Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans regarding new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in New Hampshire.

Last week, in response to congressional inquiries, ICE stated that the agency is not moving forward with plans for a facility at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack at this time. However, ICE explicitly refused to comment on any other plans for ICE facilities in New Hampshire.

The people of New Hampshire have clearly and repeatedly voiced their concerns regarding potential new ICE facilities in the Granite State. Local leaders were left out of discussions with DHS regarding the facility at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack, creating a situation where DHS plans continued to move forward without crucial local input. While the plans for this specific proposed facility have now been paused, we continue to have strong concerns that DHS has or may develop other plans for a new ICE facility in New Hampshire without listening to and accounting for the concerns of Granite Staters.

Please provide answers to the following questions no later than Friday, March 13, 2026:

• We understand that DHS has paused its plan to purchase property and operate an ICE facility at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Is DHS guaranteeing that project will not move forward, or leaving open the possibility of resuming it in the future?
• Since January 20, 2025, has DHS evaluated any sites in Merrimack for potential use as ICE facilities other than 50 Robert Milligan Parkway?
  • If so, please provide a list of locations considered, the current status of these projects, and all documents prepared for these projects including but not limited to any economic impact analyses.
• Since January 20, 2025, has DHS evaluated any other locations for potential new ICE facilities elsewhere in New Hampshire?
  • If so, please provide a list of locations considered, the current status of these projects, and all documents prepared for these projects including but not limited to any economic impact analyses.
• Since January 20, 2025, has DHS evaluated expanding or increasing capabilities at any existing federal government owned or operated locations in New Hampshire to support DHS immigration enforcement, detention, or removal operations?
  • If so, please provide a list of locations considered, the current status of these projects, and all documents prepared for these projects including but not limited to any economic impact analyses.
• Is DHS continuing to explore the possibility of developing and operating a new ICE facility in New Hampshire at this time?
• Will DHS consider developing and operating a new ICE facility in New Hampshire in the future?
• Will DHS commit to not developing or operating any new ICE facilities in New Hampshire unless it obtains the support of local leadership, including state and local elected officials as well as law enforcement and emergency services?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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