Merrimack Town Manager Discovers Unplanned ICE Processing Site

The town of Merrimack, New Hampshire, recently found itself at the center of controversy following the revelation of a proposed immigrant detainee processing site. This information came to light through documents obtained by the Washington Post, which indicated plans by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to establish the site in a former industrial warehouse.

Merrimack Town Manager’s Response

Merrimack’s Town Manager, Paul Micali, expressed his surprise upon learning about these plans. He stated, “The Town was just as surprised when reading the article,” clarifying that the local government had no prior knowledge of ICE’s intentions.

Micali has since contacted Governor Kelly Ayotte’s office to inquire if state officials were aware of this plan. As of now, he is awaiting a response. Attempts to reach Governor Ayotte’s office for comment yielded no immediate response.

Details of the Proposed Processing Site

The draft plan outlines Merrimack as one of 16 similar processing sites proposed nationwide. These sites are designed to accommodate between 500 and 1,500 immigrant detainees. The overall goal is to hold up to 80,000 detainees across the United States at any given time, utilizing larger detention centers with capacities of 5,000 to 10,000 beds.

Process Flow for Detainees

• Detainees would first be held at processing sites.
• After initial processing, they would be transported to larger detention centers.
• Detainees will remain at these centers until deportation proceedings are complete.

Current Immigration Detention Statistics in New Hampshire

As of late November, more than 340 immigrant detainees were being held in New Hampshire across specific facilities in Berlin and Dover. This marks a significant increase from the previous year when fewer than 100 detainees were present in the state prior to the Trump administration taking office.

Response from Federal Authorities

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, stated she “cannot confirm” the details of the plan and offered no further information as it remains unfinalized. Additionally, the Boston Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office, which supervises New Hampshire operations, has not provided comments on the matter.