Mass. Gov. Healey 'demands' Gov. Ayotte to oppose new ICE detention center in New Hampshire

Tim Dunn, Boston Herald on Feb 13, 2026

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Mass. Gov. Maura Healey is “demanding” New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte oppose federal plans to turn a large warehouse in Merrimack, N.H., into a detention center for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In a statement issued Friday, Healey called ICE’s plans for the facility, confirmed through documents released by the New Hampshire ACLU earlier this month, “outrageous and absolutely the wrong move for New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and our entire region.”

“We should be opposing ICE’s tactics, not allowing them to expand. We certainly should not be allowing ICE to build new human warehouses when they can’t be trusted to keep people safe and protect due process,” Healey said. “I oppose this in the strongest possible terms, and I am demanding that Governor Ayotte do everything in her power to block a new ICE facility in Southern New Hampshire.”

The 43-acre former warehouse at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack is planned to be converted into a new 400-bed detention facility – one of several large-scale facilities the agency is planning to erect across the country.

Ayotte’s office has expressed frustration over an apparent lack of communication by the federal agency to the governor, telling the New Hampshire Bulletin the office will “continue to insist on transparency” from DHS. Ayotte’s staff also criticized a state agency for not informing the corner office about its communications with DHS and ICE on the planned facility.

“It is entirely unacceptable that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources failed to share this information with the Governor’s office,” an Ayotte spokesperson told the Bulletin. “Clearly, the Department of Homeland Security is actively pursuing the use of this property without communicating with all stakeholders. We will continue to insist on transparency and communication from the Department of Homeland Security with officials in Merrimack concerning this proposed facility.”

Healey continued her now routine criticism of ICE, pointing to the violence-filled operations carried out in Minnesota over the past several weeks and other actions across the country.

“ICE is shooting people dead on the street. Mothers have been ripped from cars and separated from children. U.S. Citizens have been stopped, detained and even killed. Peaceful protestors have been assaulted. Parents are afraid to send kids to school, to go to church, to seek health care and report crimes. None of this makes people safer – it makes us all less safe,” Healey said.

“Now ICE wants to build a new 400-bed facility in Southern New Hampshire to supercharge their horrific deportation tactics in our communities. This will impact people in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and across our region. Enough is enough,” she said.

The documents obtained by the ACLU include a letter dated Jan. 9 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources listing the various site improvements planned for the property along with other aspects of the project.

“Proposed site improvements may include, but are not limited to, installing, upgrading, or rehabilitating existing parking areas, fencing, site lighting, landscaping, drainage/stormwater, recreation areas, and cameras. Tentage and a guard shack may also be installed,” the letter said.

New Hampshire Democrats voiced strong opposition to the planned detention center when the Merrimack facility was included in a Washington Post report in December on ICE’s plans for facilities across the country.

Gov. Ayotte has been the only New England governor to be publicly in support of ICE and President Trump’s immigration crackdown, signing a law in 2025 that took effect this year banning cities and towns from implementing sanctuary city policies.

The Herald has reached out to Ayotte’s office for comment.

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