In the quiet coastal city of Newport, Oregon, hundreds of residents filled the local hall on Wednesday night, their voices filled with worry and frustration. The reason for the uproar was twofold — the sudden relocation of a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter and the growing signs that a federal immigration detention facility could soon take its place at the Newport Municipal Airport.
Newport Community Raises Alarm Over Possible Detention Center
City officials opened the meeting with unexpected news. They said the federal contractor that had shown interest in leasing airport land for a new project had suddenly withdrawn its proposal. But that announcement did little to calm the crowd. Many people were still deeply anxious about what might be happening behind the scenes in Newport.
Residents spoke passionately about their fears of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center being built in their small fishing town. They said such a facility would change Newport’s image and harm its tourism-driven economy. Others said it would go against the values of their close-knit community.
“We are going to do everything we can to fight this,” declared the city’s mayor, as the room filled with applause. Many locals nodded in agreement, some holding signs opposing any ICE-related development near their homes and businesses in Newport.
Coast Guard Helicopter Move Adds to Growing Tension
At the same meeting, residents raised another major concern — the Coast Guard recently relocated its rescue helicopter from Newport to North Bend, nearly 100 miles away. The aircraft had operated from the city for years before officials decided to move it. Local fishermen, families, and city leaders warned that this decision could endanger lives, especially with the Oregon crabbing season about to begin and winter storms approaching.
“We need that helicopter here. If we don’t have that helicopter here, we will lose lives,” said one local fisherman, expressing the fears many share as they rely on the Coast Guard to respond quickly during ocean emergencies near Newport.
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City officials said they had asked federal authorities to clarify whether the helicopter move was temporary or permanent, but they had not received an answer. State lawmakers also expressed concern, saying the timing of the relocation “couldn’t have come at a worse time.” Newport is home to Oregon’s largest commercial fishing fleet, and every minute counts when accidents happen in rough ocean waters.
As tensions grew, residents began to connect the two developments — the helicopter’s removal and the mysterious federal interest in leasing Newport airport land. The lack of transparency led people to speculate that officials might clear the space to build an ICE detention facility.
Evidence Points to Federal Activity in Newport, Questions Remain
In recent weeks, growing evidence has fueled fears that an immigration detention center may be planned in Newport. Local businesses reported inquiries from a federal contractor about removing up to 10,000 gallons of wastewater daily for three years — a scale suggesting a major operation. Around the same time, online job listings surfaced for ICE detention officers and medical staff in Newport, raising more questions.
Earlier, Team Housing Solutions had approached city officials about leasing 4.3 acres at the Newport Municipal Airport to “support federal operations” starting in December 2025. Though the company later withdrew its proposal, residents believe it was part of a larger plan. City officials said they reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for clarification but received no clear response.
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ICE has not confirmed or denied the project. A spokesperson only said the agency is working with local and state governments to expand cost-effective detention space while continuing efforts to deport serious offenders. This vague response added to public unease in Newport, where many feel they are being left in the dark.
Members of Oregon’s congressional delegation have demanded answers about any federal activity at Newport’s airport. Meanwhile, residents continue to speak out, warning that a detention center could harm the environment, fishing industry, and tourism. The meeting ended with a clear message from the crowd: Newport will not stay silent until it gets the truth.