MERRIMACK, N.H. - The ACLU of New Hampshire today made public state documents that confirm detailed site plans for the proposed immigrant detention facility that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking to create at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
According to these documents, ICE consulted with a New Hampshire state agency—the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources—on ICE’s intent to "purchase, occupy and rehabilitate a 43-acre warehouse property in support of ICE operations” around January 12, 2026. ICE sought feedback on whether historic resources would be affected by its planned use of the property. The ACLU of NH obtained the documents on February 2 by mail through a Right-to-Know request.
“These documents confirm that ICE is not only planning to build a human detention facility in Merrimack, but also that it is actively pursuing legal approvals to do so while declining to tell the public, the press, or the town of its plans,” said Devon Chaffee, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire. “In just the first three weeks of 2026, six people have died in ICE custody across the country. We demand more answers, more transparency, and more opposition from our elected leaders to ensure that this disturbing and deeply harmful proposal does not become reality in the Granite State.”
Although these documents confirm ICE’s plan to build such a facility and indicate that it is much farther in the process than previously publicly known, many factors are still unclear, including how many people they will seek to imprison there.
ICE’s submission lists that “tentage and a guard shack” may be installed at the property. The submission adds that possible renovations “to support ICE operational requirements” may include “construction of holding and processing spaces, office space, public-facing visitor spaces, and installation of amenities, such as cafeterias, bathrooms, and health care spaces.”
Also in ICE’s submission are five detailed maps of the proposed location, as well as eight photographs of the site and space itself showing various exterior elevation viewpoints, interior photographs of office space and warehouse space, and views of adjoining property.
According to the documents, ICE initiated this “consultation” with the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources because the proposal is subject to the National Historic Preservation Act. On January 21, the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources communicated its assessment that no historic properties would be affected and that there was no further consultation required with its office.
According to reports, the property at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway is owned by the Trammell Crow Company, which may profit from any sale of the property to ICE.
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