By NANCY WEST, InDepthNH.org

The Merrimack Town Council sent a letter Friday to state and federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte, opposing a potential warehouse in town being purchased by ICE to house immigrants to speed up the deportation process nationwide.

Although no state or federal official has confirmed the possibility of hosting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility here, the Merrimack Town Council said it is preparing its 2026-2027 budget and warned such a proposal could prove costly for local people.

The possibility was first mentioned one month ago in a story in the Washington Post. Leaked, but unconfirmed documents, show a vacant warehouse on 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack as one of 46 sites across the country ICE listed to hold 85,500 beds.

Already, the possibility of an ICE facility has prompted protest. On Jan. 8, hundreds gathered in front of the Merrimack Town Hall. Residents spoke out against the possible plan at that night’s council meeting.

“If the potential non-verified warehouse is purchased by the federal government, there would be a $529,000 decrease in tax revenues,” the letter signed by Council chairman Finlay Rothhaus said. “This would result in an increase on the tax rate for our citizens.”

If an ICE Processing Center is established within the Town, potential difficulties and civil protest would necessitate police and fire/rescue department services, causing financial impacts to those departments, the letter said.

“As a result this town council is against the establishment of an ICE Processing Center based upon the aforementioned financial impacts and concerns,” Rothhaus said.

The letter was sent to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Gov. Kelly Ayotte. It was also sent to Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas and Maggie Goodlander, all Democrats, and others.