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DHS halts plans to build ICE facility in New Hampshire, governor says

DHS halted plans for a 400-bed ICE facility in Merrimack after local protests and political pressure, part of a $38 billion detention expansion effort, Gov. Ayotte said.

  • On Tuesday, Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced the Department of Homeland Security will not move forward with the proposed ICE facility in Merrimack after "productive discussions" with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem last week.
  • Regional leaders and Merrimack residents argued, citing opposition since late December and friction over DHS plans not properly communicated, including concerns about nearly $530,000 in local fiscal impact.
  • The site was described as a 43-acre warehouse at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway, Merrimack, planned as a 324,000-square-foot detention center with $5 million conversion and $5 million operating estimates under the $38.3 billion Detention Reengineering Initiative.
  • On Monday, New Hampshire Democrats in Congress introduced a bill requiring public input before DHS builds new ICE centers, while Maggie Hassan, U.S. Senator, said cancellation was due to `Granite Staters speaking up and pushing back` and vowed ongoing oversight.
  • Similar efforts show communities and activists opposing warehouse conversions have successfully blocked plans, setting a potential precedent for where DHS will look next.
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New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decided to withdraw its proposal to install an ICE detention and prosecution center in Merrimack. According to Ayotte, the decision was made after she traveled to Washington and met with National Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Following that meeting, she said, DHS chose not to continue the project and thanked Noem for hearing concerns expressed by reside…

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keenesentinel.com broke the news in on Monday, February 23, 2026.
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