Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), alongside Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding that Secretary Noem swiftly acknowledge and respond to concerns expressed by the Merrimack Town Council regarding reports Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to establish a new processing center in the town.

“As the state’s congressional delegation, we urge the Department to confirm its receipt of the Town Council’s letter as soon as possible and to give full and fair consideration to the Council’s budgetary and operational concerns,” the delegation wrote.

The delegation also pushed the Department to communicate clearly with the town regarding the proposed Merrimack processing center, writing, “We request that the Department acknowledge the Council’s letter and establish clear lines of communication with local officials as soon as possible to ensure the Council’s perspective is considered.”

Despite repeated outreach from the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation and the Town of Merrimack, DHS has yet to confirm or deny whether reports of ICE plans to establish a processing center in the town are true, or answer questions posed by the town, delegation, and residents of Merrimack.

The full letter is available below:

Dear Secretary Noem:

We write to transmit a letter from the Merrimack Town Council expressing concerns and its formal opposition to the Department of Homeland Security proposal to establish an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center in Merrimack, New Hampshire.

As the state’s congressional delegation, we urge the Department to confirm its receipt of the Town Council’s letter as soon as possible and to give full and fair consideration to the Council’s budgetary and operational concerns.

We request that the Department acknowledge the Council’s letter and establish clear lines of communication with local officials as soon as possible to ensure the Council’s perspective is considered.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response and to meaningful engagement between the Department and the Merrimack Town Council.

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