ICE Says They Have No Current Plans for Newport Detention Facility

Federal immigration officials say they currently have no plans to build or operate an Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Newport or anywhere in Lincoln County, according to a declaration filed in federal court on February 27, 2026 as part of an ongoing lawsuit brought by the State of Oregon and the City of Newport. In court filings supporting a motion to dismiss the case, ICE officials argue that the lawsuit challenging a proposed immigration detention or processing center is based on speculation because no final decision has been made to construct a facility.

Ralph Ferguson, acting assistant director for operations support within ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, stated in a sworn declaration that the agency “has made no decision to begin construction of a temporary holding/processing facility” and “has no plan or intention” to build or open such a facility in Newport or elsewhere in Lincoln County.

Federal attorneys argue that because no final agency action has occurred, the case should be dismissed. The filing contends the plaintiffs’ claims fall outside the scope of the Administrative Procedure Act and are therefore not ripe for judicial review.

According to the declaration, ICE had begun early environmental compliance steps in late 2025 to evaluate whether the U.S. Coast Guard’s Air Facility Newport could potentially be used as a temporary holding and processing location. Those steps included preparing a draft environmental review document and sending historic and tribal consultation letters in November 2025. ICE also contacted the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development as part of the preliminary review process. However, Ferguson said those activities ended on Dec. 4, 2025, when the U.S. Coast Guard removed the Newport site from consideration. “No construction has taken place and there had been no irretrievable commitment of resources,” Ferguson said in the filing.

The State of Oregon and the City of Newport filed suit after learning of possible planning activity related to an ICE facility that could house up to 200 detainees. According to the complaint, contractors allegedly issued notices of intent to lease 4.3 acres at the Newport Municipal Airport for federal operations and explored acquiring additional land nearby.

The lawsuit also cited reports that contractors contacted hotels in Newport and Yachats about reserving up to 200 rooms for as long as a year starting in December 2025. Other allegations included job postings for health service positions in Newport requiring experience with ICE detention standards. City officials argued these actions suggested planning for a detention or processing facility.

Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan said the statement from ICE is encouraging but does not fully resolve community concerns. “While this statement represents a positive step for our community, we must remain vigilant and carefully consider its language,” Kaplan said in a statement released on March 4th. Kaplan noted that earlier federal statements only indicated that a facility would not be built before May 2026, leaving open the possibility of future plans.

“For months, ICE has left our community in a state of uncertainty,” Kaplan said. “We will remain actively engaged until ICE has made a decision, and we will only be satisfied when that decision is to make a permanent commitment not to establish a detention facility in Newport.” The mayor also credited community groups, local governments, and elected officials for working together to seek information about the proposal and advocate for maintaining the Coast Guard’s rescue helicopter presence at the Newport air facility.

City officials say they plan to continue pursuing the lawsuit until they receive stronger assurances that an ICE facility will not be built in Newport in the future.

Federal attorneys are asking the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the lawsuit is premature because no final federal decision exists to challenge. If the court agrees, the case could be dismissed. If not, the litigation could continue as the city and state seek further information about federal planning activities related to immigration enforcement facilities along the Oregon Coast.