After Senator Hassan Presses ICE Leader, DHS Cancels Merrimack ICE Facility

WASHINGTON - After U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) pressed the head of ICE to heed the objections of the community and cancel a plan to build a detention and processing facility in Merrimack, New Hampshire during a recent hearing in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Department of Homeland Security has now reportedly canceled plans for the facility. In response to an outpouring of concern from local leaders, Granite Staters, and first responders, Senator Hassan directly pushed Acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons about these plans, telling him that the town did not want the detention center, and therefore, ICE should cancel it.

"DHS's reported cancellation of its plan for an ICE facility in Merrimack is a direct result of Granite Staters speaking up and pushing back on this Administration's lack of transparency, refusal to coordinate with the community, and actions that would make the town of Merrimack less safe," said Senator Hassan. "I applaud all those who have made their opposition to this facility clear, and will continue to join Granite Staters in pushing for secure borders, an immigration system consistent with our American values, and to ensure that this Administration works with communities, including on any future plans it may develop for ICE facilities in our state."

Senator Hassan recently joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) in writing to Secretary Noem transmitting a letter from New Hampshire State Representative Bill Boyd outlining his opposition and concerns regarding ICE's proposed Merrimack facility. This continued outreach to DHS followed a January letter from the Congressional Delegation urging Secretary Noem to acknowledge and respond to concerns raised by the Merrimack Town Council regarding reports that ICE was planning to establish a new processing center in the town.

###

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet