**More than 90% of survey respondents oppose a taxpayer-funded ICE processing center in Merrimack**
Concord, N.H. – Today, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) released the results of their statewide survey asking Granite Staters their thoughts on the proposed ICE processing center in Merrimack. More than 11,000 Granite Staters responded to Goodlander and Pappas’s surveys in opposition to building a taxpayer-funded facility in Merrimack amid the Trump Administration’s mass deportation plans.
“People across New Hampshire have spoken clearly and decisively,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “They want and deserve transparency, accountability, and professionalism from federal law enforcement — they do not want their hard-earned taxpayer dollars to be used by ICE to commandeer an industrial warehouse for the detention of human beings in our state. I will not quit in our fight on behalf of Granite Staters to stop this costly, half-baked plan that will hurt New Hampshire taxpayers and do nothing to make our communities safer.”
“Granite Staters want law and order, for their communities to be safe and secure, and for decisions that impact their communities to be made at the local level, not in Washington, DC,” said Congressman Pappas. “I stand with the residents of Merrimack, local leaders, and the thousands of Granite Staters who are voicing strong opposition to this plan. It is completely unacceptable for the Trump administration to be bypassing local and state leaders in this process. I will continue to push to stop this plan, for full transparency and accountability from this administration, and ensure that local voices are heard by President Trump, Secretary Noem, and officials at all levels of the federal government.”
Congresswoman Goodlander has been outspoken in opposition to the proposed ICE detention center in New Hampshire since it was made public in December 2025. She has called on Secretary Kristi Noem to be removed from office or impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives. In January, she and the New Hampshire Congressional delegation urged Secretary Noem to address concerns raised by the Merrimack Town Council about the proposed facility and its impact. She also voted against the Department of Homeland Security funding bill and cosponsored the PUBLIC SAFETY Act to redirect billions from ICE to local law enforcement, arguing that public safety depends on strong local partnerships. Goodlander and the Congressional delegation also forwarded a letter from a Republican NH state representative to Secretary Noem in opposition to the planned immigration detention center in Merrimack.
In January, Pappas led the New Hampshire Congressional delegation in demanding that Secretary Noem swiftly acknowledge and address concerns raised by the Merrimack Town Council about reports that ICE plans to establish a new processing center in the town. In a letter earlier this month, Pappas also urged Appropriations Committee leaders to include language in any DHS funding to protect states’ and localities’ ability to make decisions about what is best for their communities. Pappas introduced the PUBLIC SAFETY Act to redirect almost $75 billion in funding from ICE to go to local law enforcement programs to help hire and train 200,000 local cops nationwide. He has also called on Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or be impeached.
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