Overview

ICE planned to purchase and convert a 43-acre warehouse property at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack, New Hampshire into a regional processing center with 500 to 1,500 beds. DHS estimated $300 million in retrofitting and operating costs over its first three years.

Key Details

• Estimated cost: $300 million (3-year retrofit + operations)
• Property: 43-acre warehouse
• Planned capacity: 500-1,500 beds
• Facility type: Regional processing center (one of 16)
• Status: Paused — community opposition forced halt (see merrimack-nh-paused)

Community Opposition

Merrimack is in New Hampshire, a “purple” swing state that holds the nation’s first presidential primary. Community uproar forced the halt of the planned facility. The ACLU of New Hampshire obtained state documents confirming ICE’s detailed site plans, revealing that state officials had known about the plans for weeks before public disclosure.

Timeline

• December 2025: Washington Post first reports on the plan
• January 12, 2026: ICE consults NH Division of Historical Resources on intent to purchase
• February 2026: ACLU-NH releases documents; community backlash intensifies
• Status as of March 2026: Halted due to opposition

Sources

• ACLU-NH unveils state documents confirming ICE’s detailed site plans — ACLU-NH
• Documents confirm ICE plans for Merrimack warehouse — NHPR
• Records confirm ICE eyeing massive warehouse — Boston Globe