Federal Inquiry Sparks Concern Over Potential ICE Facility in Newport
A letter from a Texas defense contractor referencing “federal operations” at Newport Municipal Airport has fueled speculation about a possible immigration facility.
NEWPORT, Ore. — Questions are swirling along the Oregon Coast after a Texas-based defense contractor contacted the City of Newport about plans to support “federal operations” beginning in December — sparking concerns that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may be eyeing the region for a new facility.
The company, Team Housing Solutions, sent a letter to city officials on Nov. 4 indicating it intended to lease a 4.3-acre plot at the Newport Municipal Airport. The letter stated that the company planned to provide infrastructure such as office trailers, storage containers, generators, and security fencing “to support federal operations commencing at the Newport Municipal Airport on or around December 1, 2025.”
No federal agency was identified in the letter, and Newport officials said they have not received additional information to verify the nature of the proposed activities.
“The city has not received any further information regarding this request, which would be required before we could accept or reject any lease request,” Newport spokesperson John Fuller said.
In a public statement, the city said it had been “made aware” that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is evaluating possible locations along the Oregon Coast for a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, with the Newport airport listed as one potential site.
That possibility has raised alarms among local and state leaders. The site in question is adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard air base, which recently relocated a rescue helicopter that had been stationed there for years. Federal officials have not confirmed whether the facility change is related.
“Any unilateral decision made 3,000 miles away from Newport about using any part of this coastal community for an ICE detention facility would be both alarming and asinine,” U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said in a statement, adding that he plans to work with state and local officials to obtain more information from the administration.
Team Housing Solutions, which specializes in rapidly establishing housing for military and federal personnel, has previously worked on large-scale contracts in Texas to support National Guard deployments near the U.S.-Mexico border. Reports from The Texas Observer indicate the company has received contracts exceeding $800 million for its work building base camps for border enforcement operations.
While the company has not responded to inquiries about its intentions in Newport, its past projects have focused on housing personnel rather than constructing detention facilities.
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Coast Guard have not commented on any potential federal activity at the Newport airport.
A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday in Newport to discuss the situation and address community concerns.