ICE confirms no plans for Newport detention center

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has reached a settlement with the Oregon Department of Justice regarding potential immigration detention facilities in Newport, Oregon. Court documents affirm that there are currently no plans to construct new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in the area.

As part of the settlement, the federal government agreed to provide city officials with at least 30 days' notice before any environmental permitting processes begin. This agreement remains in effect through August 1, 2027. The legal action followed concerns that federal authorities were scouting the Oregon Coast, specifically the Newport U.S. Coast Guard municipal airport site, for a long-term holding facility.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield stated that the settlement ensures the federal government follows environmental and coastal land use regulations. The dispute also involved the temporary removal of a life-saving rescue helicopter from the Newport Coast Guard facility, an issue for which Rayfield previously secured a court order for its return.