Plan for ICE detention center in Merrimack has been scrapped, governor says

MERRIMACK, N.H. —

After two months of speculation, protests and public debate, the Department of Homeland Security is moving on from plans for an immigrant detention facility in Merrimack, WMUR was first to report on Tuesday.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced the news Tuesday morning, saying she engaged directly with the Trump administration regarding the facility during a recent visit to Washington, D.C., for a gathering of the nation's governors.

"During my trip to Washington last week, I had productive discussions with Secretary Kristi Noem, and I'm pleased to announce that the Department of Homeland Security will not move forward with the proposed ICE facility in Merrimack," Ayotte said. "I thank Secretary Noem for hearing the concerns of the Town of Merrimack and for the continued cooperation between DHS and New Hampshire law enforcement to secure our northern border, keep dangerous criminals off our streets, and ensure our communities are safe."

The governor faced criticism from Democrats for not being more confrontational with the Trump administration, but on Tuesday morning, the secretary of Homeland Security gave a nod to Ayotte’s behind-the-scenes efforts, lauding her collaborative approach.

"I appreciated my discussions with Governor Ayotte last week," said Noem. "From banning sanctuary cities to strengthening law enforcement cooperation, New Hampshire has been a strong partner in securing our country, and we look forward to continuing our work together."

>> See reaction to this news from Merrimack's town manager:

This issue triggered controversy in Merrimack and at the State House from the very start, when the Washington Post reported that DHS had identified Merrimack as a potential site for a detention center to house immigrants detained as part of the Trump administration's mass deportation program.

It cut a wide swath through New Hampshire politics, forcing the resignation of the Commissioner of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources after a public information request by ACLU-NH revealed that a state agency had been in contact with DHS regarding the planned facility for several weeks before the governor or any other state leaders said they were aware.

While the major parties debated the need for the detention center and the merits of locating it in New Hampshire, the opposition in Merrimack, among elected officials, was broad and bipartisan, citing the impact to municipal tax rolls and the lack of infrastructure to support a facility housing 500-1,000 people.

Now, the question is where DHS will look next as it attempts to find a new location for this facility.