Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)
Pappas urges appropriations committee leaders to include language in any DHS funding to protect the ability of states and localities to make decisions about what is best for their communities
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) has written to Reps. Tom Cole and Rosa DeLauro, Chair and Ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, as well as Reps. Mark Amodei and Henry Cuellar, Chair and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, urging them to address the serious concerns shared by state and local leaders as well as thousands of his constituents about the proposed ICE facility in Merrimack.
In the letter, Pappas wrote: “As you continue negotiations regarding funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), I urge you to include language to preserve state and local autonomy regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) efforts to establish immigrant processing and detention facilities.”
Pappas continued: “On January 23, 2026, the Merrimack Town Council sent a formal letter of opposition to the proposed facility to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, citing significant concerns regarding increased strain on law enforcement and emergency services, as well as negative impacts on the local economy. To date, ICE has not meaningfully engaged with local officials regarding these concerns. On February 11, 2026, ICE Deputy Director Charles Wall confirmed to me that ICE is planning for, and has begun taking concrete steps toward, the establishment of a processing facility in Merrimack.”
Pappas concluded: “As the representative for Merrimack, I strongly urge you to include language in any funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security that protects the ability of states and localities to make decisions about what is best for their citizens and prevents DHS from forcing on a community a detention facility that the community does not want.”
Click here to reach the full letter.
In January, Pappas led the New Hampshire Congressional delegation in demanding that Secretary Noem swiftly acknowledge and respond to the Merrimack Town Council’s concerns about reports that ICE plans to establish a new processing center in the town.