New Hampshire commissioner resigns at request of Gov. Ayotte after ICE facility plans made public

Stewart Resigns After Agency Failed to Alert Ayotte To ICE Plans for Merrimack Facility

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org CONCORD – After taking full responsibility for not informing the governor of a Trump administration request for information on a potential ICE detention center in Merrimack, and offering an apology during an Executive Council emergency meeting Feb. 4, Sarah Stewart has resigned at Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s request.Stewart was nominated commissioner of the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources by former Gov. C…

New Hampshire commissioner forced to resign after Merrimack ICE facility controversy

The announcement comes after Stewart received sharp criticism last week over her agency’s failure to alert New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte or other state officials about documents submitted by the Department of Homeland Security. The documents showed the federal agency planned to use a Merrimack warehouse for immigrant detention.

Embattled cultural resources commissioner resigns amid Merrimack ICE facility fallout

Natural and Cultural Resources Commissioner Sarah Stewart (standing, center) and Ben Wilson (standing left), director of the Division of Historic Resources, answer questions from councilors during a special Executive Council meeting on Feb. 4, 2026. Gov. Kelly Ayotte (sitting, right) asked Stewart to resign. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin)New Hampshire Natural and Cultural Resources Commissioner Sarah Stewart resigned Monday,…

DNCR commissioner Stewart resigns in wake of ICE plans controversy

Sarah Stewart, commissioner of the state’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, has resigned at Gov. Kelly Ayotte's request, the governor’s office announced Monday morning.

New Hampshire agency head resigns over ICE facility debacle

(The Center Square) — The embattled head of a New Hampshire agency that failed to tell Gov. Kelly Ayotte about the Trump administration's plans to convert a warehouse into an

New Hampshire commissioner resigns at request of Gov. Ayotte after ICE facility plans made public

The commissioner of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has resigned at the request of Gov. Kelly Ayotte, the governor's office announced Monday morning.