Merrimack Timeline and Key Media Coverage
2-23-26- Globe NH report on the NH Federal delegation introducing legislation
2-22-26 -NHPR Coverage of the Merrimack protest “Put sand in the gears: Protesters Speak out”
2-21-26 Huge protest at Merrimack Town Hall, about 1,800 protesters. See our Facebook page for photos.
2-21-26 WMUR coverage of the protest at Merrimack Town Hall
2-18-26 InDepth NH: Trump, Noem and ICE Engaged with Ayotte on Merrimack Detention Plan
2-18-26 White House responds to plans to build ICE detention center in Merrimack,
2-18-26 As ICE buys up warehouses, even some Trump voters say no.
2-18-26 ICE buys warehouse in New Jersey
2-17-26 Union leader article: Merrimack officials scoff at promised windfall from ICE warehouse
2-16-26 No ICE NH Press Release: Merrimack becomes battleground for New England as coalition announces major protest against facility
2-16-26 Rachel Maddow Segment on ICE facility in Merrimack, with special guest Rep. Wendy Thomas. https://youtu.be/0WdqphevyUY
🗓️-2/13/26 - WMUR: Hours after ICE claimed it had already sent Ayotte docs on Merrimack, report arrives with Oklahoma, sales tax references
🗓️-2/12/26 -InDepth New Hampshire: ICE Director: DHS Has Worked with Governor on Merrimack Facility. Ayotte: That’s Not True
🗓️ 2-7-2026 Letter from State Rep. Bill Boyd asking Trammel Crow to reconsider the sale of the building.
🗓️-2/5/26 - OpEd by State Rep Wendy Thomas of Merrimack - https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/02/05/my-turn-governor-ignorance-ice-plan/
🗓️-2/3/26-ACLU NH press release confirming detention center - https://www.aclu-nh.org/press-releases/aclu-nh-unveils-state-documents-confirming-ices-detailed-site-plans-for-a-merrimack-detention-facility/
🗓️-2/3/26-Boston Globe article
🗓️-2/2/26-DHS response to Town of Merrimack - https://www.merrimacknh.gov/
🗓️-1/28/26-NH Congressional delegation letter to DHS requesting response to Town of Merrimack - https://www.merrimacknh.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3456/f/news/01.28.2026_nh_codel_letter_to_dhs_secretary_noem_re_merrimack_town_council_opposition_to_proposed_ice_facility.pdf
🗓️-1/26/26—Mentiono n Rachel Maddow (Merrimack starts at 3:17) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLWyMlZexKY
🗓️-1/23/26-Town of Merrimack sends letter to DHS https://www.merrimacknh.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3456/f/news/260123_town_council_letter_to_dhs_re_ice_processing_center_-_signed.pdf
🗓️-1/13/26-Leak with addresses (note: Some of the cities on this list were not in the original leak)🗓️-1/14/26-Begin coordinating and plugging into cross-state networks
NBC Boston - https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/protesters-to-rally-against-planned-ice-facility-in-merrimack-nh/3874229/
WMUR coverage of protest at town hall - https://www.wmur.com/article/crowd-protest-ice-facility-merrimack-010826/69950356
NHPR coverage of protest at town hall - https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-01-08/protest-merrimack-nh-ice-facility-immigration-detention-noem-homeland-security-warehouse-trump
🗓️-1/8/26-Protest outside MMK Town Hall (~1,200 attendees)
🗓️-1/1/26-By this date the coalition grew to 29 orgs in NH
🗓️-12/26/25-No ICE NH coalition created
🗓️-12/24/25-WAPO article leak with cities - https://archive.ph/LjyiL#selection-257.0-260.0