New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security reversed course on its plan to convert a warehouse into a detention facility in her state after the Republican governor spoke with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
Lawmakers and state officials on both sides of the aisle have struggled with how to respond to the agency’s rapid purchasing of warehouses across the country with the goal of turning them into detention facilities as part of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. Ayotte’s announcement marks a rare example of success in getting DHS to halt construction plans amid its fast expansion of its network of detention centers.
“During my trip to Washington last week, I had productive discussions with Secretary Kristi Noem, and I’m pleased to announce that the Department of Homeland Security will not move forward with the proposed ICE facility in Merrimack,” Ayotte said in a statement.
The New Hampshire facility has gotten pushback in the state among community leaders and state leaders alike. Ayotte said that DHS had not originally informed her of plans for the facility. The state’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources commissioner even resigned at the request of the governor after a public records request revealed that DHS applied to renovate and occupy the warehouse. The governor said the state agency had failed to inform her of the plans.
According to documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union, the federal government estimated it would spend $156 million to convert the warehouse into a detention facility, followed by $146 million to operate it for the first three years.
“I appreciate my discussions with Governor Ayotte last week,” Noem said in the joint statement with Ayotte on Tuesday. “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.”
Ayotte is not the first Republican to successfully fend off DHS’ efforts to bring an ICE facility to their state. Earlier this month, Sen. Roger Wicker also wrote a letter and subsequently spoke with Noem over his concerns about a proposed DHS plan to convert a warehouse in Byhalia, Mississippi, into an 8,500-bed detention facility. Following the call, DHS similarly called off plans for the facility. The senator wrote in a statement on X that Noem had agreed “to look elsewhere.”
On Monday, Maryland became the first state to sue over a proposed warehouse detention facility in Hagerstown, after Democratic Gov. Wes Moore sent a letter to Noem expressing concern over the center earlier this month. The lawsuit hinges on the environmental impact that the proposed facility could have on the local community.
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