Oregon Sues to Block ICE Detention Center in Newport

The state of Oregon and the city of Newport have filed federal lawsuits to block the construction of a large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility at the Newport Municipal Airport. Dan Rayfield, the Oregon Attorney General, filed an amended complaint alleging the federal government bypassed environmental and coastal land-use regulations to plan a facility expected to open in early 2026.

The state argues that the project has been pursued without transparency, ignoring requests for information from local officials. The lawsuit further alleges that ICE planned to hold detainees for less than 72 hours specifically to avoid triggering federal standards for care and space, despite the likelihood that some stays would exceed that limit. The city of Newport filed a separate action asserting that the airport's 1992 deed restricts the land's use to aviation.

These challenges are linked to a prior dispute involving the U.S. Coast Guard's attempt to relocate a rescue helicopter from the airport to North Bend. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken issued a preliminary injunction requiring the helicopter to remain in Newport while litigation continues. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security dismissed the new legal actions as demonizing rhetoric, asserting the department's right to use its own property to fulfill its mission.