ICE Evaluating Newport Municipal Airport for Detention Facility

By Brian Bahouth

Rumors that U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) is considering the Newport Municipal Airport for a detention facility have been swirling for days, and today State Representative David Gomberg and the City of Newport released statements regarding the possibility.

The City released the following:

“City of Newport officials were made aware of information that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is in the process of evaluating locations along the Oregon coast for a potential U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) immigration facility, and the Newport Municipal Airport has been identified as a possible location for this facility.

“City leadership is actively working with local, state, and federal legislators to verify and assess this information, its potential effects on public safety and city resources, and municipal and legal options that may be available. Efforts to contact DHS representatives by phone and email have not received a response at the time of this release.

“The City’s standard communications practices require the confirmation of details prior to releasing information to the public. However, due to credibility of the information received by City officials and the sensitivity of the issue, Newport leadership has chosen to share this information with the community in the interest of public safety and transparency.”

The Newport City Council will hold an open public meeting on Wednesday, November 12, at 6 pm.

In a newsletter released today, state Representative David Gomberg said he is in communication with the state’s congressional delegation and state officials, but information is scarce.

“We are now aware there are persistent rumors and reports that ICE is in the process of expanding operations near the Newport Municipal Airport in space that has been deeded to the Coast Guard. Predictably, the federal agencies that actually know something are not saying. But I have been in constant contact with our US Senators and Congresswoman, the Governor’s office, Attorney General, and local leaders.

“What I do know is that reports indicate the proposed siting of a new ICE detention facility in the Newport area. We are aware that our local Coast Guard helicopter has been relocated to North Bend, and that is disturbing.

“Information beyond that is scarce at this time.” 

Gomberg added that he has heard reports of Coast Guard personnel being mistaken for ICE agents and harassed. He asked for that activity to stop. 

Representative Gomberg reminded citizens to exercise their First Amendment rights responsibly and that Oregon is a sanctuary state.

“Oregon remains a sanctuary state. And within that status, anyone committing crimes against people or property should be held accountable regardless of immigration status.

“The federal government needs to fix their broken immigration laws and border policies. But that should not include tearing local families apart, intimidating and debilitating local businesses and their employees, or upending local communities.”

Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan issued the following:

“I am deeply concerned by recent reports suggesting that Newport may be under consideration
for an ICE detention facility. The well-being, safety, and values of our community are the highest
priorities of myself and our City Council.

“We are committed to uphold fairness and dignity for all who call Newport home. Any proposal
that has the potential to impact those principles deserves transparency, public input, and a
thorough review of potential social and economic consequences.

“City staff is actively working with local, state, and federal partners to receive clarification on the
information provided to us and any legal options that may be available to us.”

ICE agents arrested a man in Newport in September. 

Since October 15, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have arrested as many as 280 Oregon residents in Washington County and around the city of Woodburn in Marion County, according to the coalition Oregon for All. 

An ICE raid was reported last week in Seaside where KMUN radio reported that two to six people were detained. Several were arrested in Lane County last week as well.