(The Center Square) — New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is backing away from plans to build a regional ICE detention facility in the state.
Ayotte announced in a statement Tuesday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has decided not to move ahead with the planned 400-bed facility in the Town of Merrimack after “productive discussions” during her visit to Washington, D.C. last week.
“I thank Secretary Noem for hearing the concerns of the Town of Merrimack and for the continued cooperation between DHS and New Hampshire law enforcement to secure our northern border, keep dangerous criminals off our streets, and ensure our communities are safe,” the Republican said.
Ayotte’s office provided a statement from Noem saying she “appreciated” her meeting with the governor and praising the state’s Republican leadership for supporting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
“From banning sanctuary cities to strengthening law enforcement cooperation, New Hampshire has been a strong partner in securing our country, and we look forward to continuing our work together,” Noem said.
The proposed ICE facility has been a source of frustration for the Ayotte administration, which claims it only learned about the DHS’s plans after documents obtained by the New Hampshire Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union revealed the state Division of Historical Resources was in talks with DHS officials to begin planning for the Merrimack complex.
The revelation prompted the resignation of state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Commissioner Sarah Stewart, who stepped down amid criticism over her office’s failure to notify Ayotte about the project. The Ayotte administration has also criticized the Trump administration for a lack of communication about its plans for the ICE facility.
The Merrimack Town Council approved a resolution opposing the facility, citing concerns about a loss of revenue from taking the land off the local property tax rolls and the impact on municipal services.
To be sure, Ayotte has been largely supportive of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. In May, she signed a law banning “sanctuary” policies and her administration has signed a deal with ICE allowing state troopers to arrest and detain immigration suspects after they are trained and certified by federal officials.
But immigrant rights groups and Democrats had urged her to oppose the proposed facility. She also faced pressure from Democratic leaders in neighboring states, including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who called on Ayotte last week to reject the Trump administration’s plans to “supercharge their horrific deportation tactics” in the New England region.
Ayotte fired back at Healey, accusing her administration of supporting ‘sanctuary’ policies that drew tens of thousands of asylum seekers and refugees to the region following a surge of immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border under the previous Biden administration.
“New England is in this position because Governor Healey and Massachusetts created a billion-dollar illegal immigrant crisis in our region. Get your own house in order, Maura,” Ayotte said.
