"NEWPORT- The chilly breeze and sandy shores in this Oregon fishing city have shielded this town from scorching heat for decades. But despite the mist in the air, rumors here spread like wildfire. The latest of those hunches came straight from city officials and has since commanded national attention. Newport City Manager Nina Vetter and Mayor Jan Kaplan signed onto a Nov. 10 statement suggesting the Trump administration could be planning Oregon's first Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility."
"All they had were a few clues. A life-saving rescue helicopter had just been relocated from the Coast Guard's Newport Municipal Air facility to a station in North Bend nearly 70 miles away. A defense contractor wanted to lease land in December next to that facility in support of "federal operations." Job listings showed private companies were recruiting detention officers with ICE experience in Newport."
"The state of Oregon has filed a federal lawsuit seeking the return of the helicopter, and a local group supporting fishermen has done the same, winning a 14-day order just before Thanksgiving to return it to Newport. In the meantime, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, Gov. Tina Kotek, and U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle have all sought answers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to no avail."
Newport residents and officials suspect the municipal airport could become Oregon's first ICE detention facility after a Nov. 10 statement by the city manager and mayor. Clues included relocation of a Coast Guard rescue helicopter nearly 70 miles away, a defense contractor seeking to lease adjacent land for "federal operations," and job listings recruiting detention officers with ICE experience. Hundreds of locals attended public meetings opposing the proposal. The state and a local fishermen's group filed lawsuits to return the helicopter and won a temporary order. Federal officials have not provided confirmation or answers.
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