Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has drafted a plan to create an immigrant detainee processing site in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
- The site would be one of 16 smaller processing sites planned nationwide, designed to hold between 500 to 1,500 immigrant detainees.
- The draft plan seeks to hold 80,000 immigrant detainees at a time, with larger sites proposed to have between 5,000 to 10,000 beds.
- The town of Merrimack had no prior knowledge of the plan, and the state government has not commented on the proposal.
- The number of immigrant detainees held in New Hampshire has increased significantly since the Trump administration took office.
Introduction to the Plan
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has drafted a plan to create an immigrant detainee processing site at a former industrial warehouse in Merrimack, New Hampshire. This plan was revealed through documents obtained by the Washington Post, which showed that the site would be one of 16 smaller processing sites planned nationwide. The town of Merrimack had no knowledge of the plan prior to the reporting being published, with town manager Paul Micali stating that the town was "just as surprised" as everyone else when they read the article.
Lack of Transparency and Communication
The lack of transparency and communication from ICE and the state government has been a major concern for the town of Merrimack. Micali has reached out to Governor Kelly Ayotte’s office to see if they were aware of the plan, but has not received a response yet. The Governor’s office also did not respond to a request for comment from NHPR. This lack of communication has raised questions about the level of involvement and awareness of state and local officials in the planning process. The Boston Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office, which oversees New Hampshire, also did not respond to NHPR’s request for comment, further adding to the lack of transparency.
Details of the Draft Plan
According to the draft plan, the processing sites would be used to hold detainees before transporting them to one of the larger detention centers, where detainees would then be held until deportation. The larger detention centers are proposed to have between 5,000 to 10,000 beds, while the smaller processing sites would hold between 500 to 1,500 detainees. The overall goal of the plan is to hold 80,000 immigrant detainees at a time. Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, declined to discuss details of the plan, stating that it is not final and that she "cannot confirm" the reporting.
Impact on New Hampshire
The number of immigrant detainees held in New Hampshire has increased significantly since the Trump administration took office. As of the end of November, more than 340 immigrant detainees were held in the state, at sites in Berlin and Dover. This is a significant increase from the same time last year, when less than 100 immigrant detainees were held in the state. The proposed processing site in Merrimack would likely contribute to this increase, and has raised concerns among local residents and officials.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The draft plan to create an immigrant detainee processing site in Merrimack, New Hampshire, has raised concerns about transparency, communication, and the impact on the state. The lack of awareness and involvement from state and local officials has been a major issue, and the increase in immigrant detainees held in the state has significant implications for the community. As the plan is not final, it remains to be seen how it will be implemented and what the ultimate impact will be on the state and its residents. The town of Merrimack and the state government will likely be closely watching the development of this plan and its potential implications for the community.