Rockingham County hears strong public opposition as commissioners review potential ICE contract

The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners took no final action Jan. 15 on a proposed contract that would allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house detainees at the county facility, but commissioners said financial details and an insurance review are pending and that a public hearing will be scheduled.

Commissioner Coyle (speaking as a commissioner) and other commissioners said the contract has been circulated to the board, is subject to RSA 91‑A public‑records access, and that the county is awaiting financial documents that staff expect to provide "next week," which officials said will be an important part of the review. The board also said it will send the contract to Primex, the county's insurance carrier, for review before scheduling a public hearing.

Public-comment speakers urged the board to decline the contract. "Please don't sign a contract with ICE," said Kathleen Slover of Portsmouth, who told commissioners she was concerned that ICE tactics erode public trust and that local law enforcement/community relations could suffer. State Rep. Linda Haskins (Rockingham 11, Exeter) said she wanted to see every stage of the process and requested the contract be provided to the public sooner rather than later.

Several speakers raised legal and medical-care concerns. "There's an inherent conflict between the ICE detention transfer and removal policies and continuity of health care," said Megan Chapman, a human-rights lawyer with past experience managing services for detainees, urging the county to make both the contract and any county analyses publicly available. Hazel Brady Spires, a Portsmouth attorney, warned of potential constitutional and liability issues if the county partners with ICE.

Speakers cited recent national incidents and local operational concerns. One commenter said recent events elsewhere increased scrutiny and risk of protests, while others asked whether the county's mission—serving Rockingham County residents and handling local justice matters—would be altered by accepting detainees from outside the county.

County staff and commissioners repeatedly emphasized that financial terms are a central part of the evaluation. "The most unique part of it is the financial part," one commissioner said, adding that the board prefers to review the financials before finalizing next steps. The board said it will return questions to ICE and that, after insurer and financial review, it will set a public hearing for further input.

The commissioners moved into nonpublic session after public comment; no vote on the ICE contract was recorded on Jan. 15.