A view of the Merrimack facility at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack, New Hampshire, planned for retrofitting by the Department of Homeland Security. The 324,395-square-foot site is projected to have a bed capacity of 400 to 600 under ICE’s Detention Reengineering Initiative. (New Hampshire Governor's Office)
- The Merrimack retrofit could create 1,252 jobs, generate $119 million labor income, and $31.2 million taxes, documents show.
- Annual operations at the facility will support 265 jobs, $36.6 million labor income, and $10.7 million taxes, the documents report.
- ICE’s $38.3 billion Detention Reengineering Initiative aims to streamline operations and expand bed capacity nationwide.
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The Department of Homeland Security has released documents detailing plans for a $158 million investment in a detention facility in Merrimack, New Hampshire, following inquiries from Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s office. In those documents, the department shares that the estimated cost for the new detentions center models is $38.3 billion.
The documents, posted publicly on the governor’s website, outline the economic impact of retrofitting and operating the facility. DHS estimates the retrofit would support 1,252 jobs, generate $119 million in labor income, contribute $151.3 million to gross domestic product, produce $279.3 million in output, and generate $31.2 million in taxes. Operations at the Merrimack Processing Site are projected to support 265 jobs annually across the region, with labor income of $36.6 million, a $59.8 million contribution to GDP, $68.7 million in output, and about $10.7 million in local, state, and federal tax revenue.
The project is part of ICE’s Detention Reengineering Initiative, under which Enforcement and Removal Operations will implement a new detention model by the end of Fiscal Year 2026. The initiative aims to meet growing bedspace demand and streamline detention and removal processes, focusing on non-traditional facilities built specifically for ICE needs.
Acquisition and Renovation of 8 Detention Centers
The model includes the acquisition and renovation of eight large-scale detention centers, 16 processing sites, and 10 existing “turnkey” facilities already operated by ICE.
The total estimated cost for the new detention center model is $38.3 billion, funded through Congress’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The plan is designed to reduce the number of contracted detention facilities while increasing bed capacity, improving custody management, and streamlining removal operations.
“After my office inquired about the economic impact study following today’s Senate hearing, DHS has now for the first time distributed the document,” Ayotte said. “Once the document was received, we immediately shared it with the Town of Merrimack. We are publishing this document on my website for the public to find.”
The release follows a U.S. Senate hearing earlier Thursday, where the governor’s office sought additional details on the economic effects of the facility.
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