Newport ICE facility sparks Democratic opposition after Noem meeting

Oregon Democrats are railing against reports that a new ICE detention center could be built near Portland, after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned she may have to act “the hard way” following a tense meeting with state officials.

Noem met with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and local police in October, later describing them as “dishonest” and hinting at possible federal action during a White House Cabinet meeting.

“As soon as you leave the room, they do the exact opposite response. So we’re looking at buying new facilities in Portland as well, and we’re going to double down,” Noem said at the time. “If we have to do it the hard way…we will.”

Seen as a potential follow-up to those remarks, a municipal airport in Newport — on the Oregon coast, about 100 miles southwest of Portland — is under consideration for a possible ICE facility, officials told local ABC affiliate.

Newport officials told the news outlet they are working with state and federal lawmakers to confirm details of the reported project and its impacts on public safety.

DHS did not respond to a request for comment, and city leaders said they also contacted the agency.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks in Quito, Ecuador, July 2025. (Getty Images/Alex Brandon)

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., told KATU that the idea of ​​DHS alone deciding to build an ICE facility in Newport was “alarming and stupid,” while Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan said the public’s well-being and the “values ​​of our community are the highest priorities of myself and the City Council.”

Kaplan told the local CBS affiliate that he was hearing from people in Portland and elsewhere that they would never visit Newport again, with some expressing concerns about being “dragged into the streets” by ICE.

He also said a marked increase in automobile traffic due to a new ICE facility would create other potential problems.

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A letter obtained by KOIN from a Texas-based workforce housing company to Newport City Manager Nina Vetter expressed interest in leasing a 4.3-acre parcel at the airport from the federal government for “operational staging in support of the federal project.” The plan includes “temporary facilities,” a 12-foot fence and controlled access points.

The No. 2 Democrat in the Oregon House, who represents Newport, has publicly demanded answers from DHS.

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“Explain your intentions and let the public know what you plan,” said Rep. David Gomberg.

Gomberg told KATU he wants respectful dialogue and that residents should not harass U.S. Coast Guard personnel currently stationed on the airport’s federal property parcel.