MERRIMACK – Expecting a crowd larger than it can handle to address the report of Merrimack possibly hosting a warehouse for Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees for up to 1,500 people, the Merrimack Town Hall will close at noon on Thursday, according to the town’s website.

People who are opposed to the plan, which was first reported Dec. 24 in the Washington Post, are expected to gather outside the town hall Thursday at 5:30 p.m. with some organizers saying more than 1,000 people, including counter protesters, will show up.

The town hall will reopen just before the town council meets Thursday at 7 p.m. in a room on the second floor that has fewer than 80 seats, according to Sharon Marunicz, Merrimack’s human resource director.

She said the ICE matter is not on the meeting agenda, but citizens of Merrimack will be allowed to address the council near the end of the meeting, making it clear that town officials also have received no information on the ICE plan.

Merrimack police warned drivers to “expect heavy traffic and potential delays in Merrimack on Thursday, January 8, 2026, near Route 3 (DW Highway) and Baboosic Lake Road during the late afternoon and evening. Please consider using alternate routes.” That is near town hall.

On Dec. 24, the Post reported that to speed up deportations, the Trump administration plans to hold 80,000 immigrants in warehouses across the country, including in Merrimack, NH, with up to 1,500 people.

Quoting internal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement documents, the Post said the plan includes seven large-scale holding centers to stage 5,000 to 10,000 people for deportation each and 16 smaller ones such as in Merrimack to hold between 500 and 1,500, and would include renovating industrial warehouses.

At a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Kelly Ayotte says talk of the proposal is just “speculative” at this point and she has received no information about it.

The three Democratic state Representatives for Merrimack – Nancy Murphy, Rosemarie Rung, and Wendy Thomas oppose the plan.

“Although keeping ICE human warehouses out of New Hampshire is a state-wide concern, I appreciate that the town of Merrimack is prioritizing local town comments, especially at this early phase, at the town council meeting scheduled for January 8th,” Thomas said Wednesday. “As more information is gathered we look forward to continue hearing from and linking arms with others throughout New Hampshire as we continue to show opposition to this horrendous proposal.” 

At noon Wednesday, opponents of the plan, including legislators who were in session, gathered in front of the State House.

The Merrimack website also said all online town services, including motor vehicle registration renewals and building permits, will remain available after the town hall closes at noon Thursday and the council meeting will go on as scheduled at 7 p.m.

Marunicz said it is a public meeting and as many people will be let in that the room can hold and the council will hear from town residents.

The meeting will also be live streamed as usual, she said.