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
Resources
Diagram of coalition of teams for No ICE NH
Diagram of ICE resistance efforts for No ICE NH
List of Team recommendations based on our No ICENH experience
The Minnesota Model: A case study in Community Organizing
DHS Expansion of Immigration Detention into Warehouses (A toolkit)