Sen. Ron Wyden talks with Coast Guard helicopter crew members Thursday during a short visit to the air station at the Newport airport. (Photo courtesy of Wyden staff)
By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle
NEWPORT – Sen. Ron Wyden toured the U.S. Coast Guard air station in Newport Thursday, then pledged to keep an eye on the rescue helicopter there and oppose any plans by the federal government to locate an immigration detention center in the city.
Wyden, D-Ore., spent the night in Newport after a Wednesday evening town hall in Florence and before another later Thursday in Tillamook. He took a quick but private tour Thursday morning of the Coast Guard’s air station at the Newport airport where he chatted with helicopter crews.
But at a mid-morning news conference, the senator had no news to share about the lawsuits in federal court or any other significant signs that point towards what the federal government may be planning.
The Department of Homeland Security moved the Newport-based helicopter to North Bend in October without a congressionally-required notice, prompting a federal lawsuit by Newport Fishermen’s Wives, Lincoln County and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken in November issued a temporary restraining order that returned the helicopter to Newport.
In September, a Texas-based company with a history of building military housing expressed interest in a piece of city-owned property for an unnamed federal project. Then, jobs postings for immigration and customs enforcement personnel surfaced for positions in Newport and local motels received inquiries from government contractors looking for up to 200 rooms to house workers.
While the company withdrew its letter of interest and there has been no official confirmation from Homeland Security that a detention facility was or is planned for Newport, there is substantial opposition from the public and Newport city officials.
But Wyden and local leaders don’t believe the fight is over.
The Newport city council unanimously voiced its opposition to a detention center and hired a Portland law firm to handle legal issues regarding it.
Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan told reporters on Thursday that the city is monitoring and will oppose any potential immigration detention center in the city. (Shayla Escudero/Lincoln Chronicle)“As a city, we are continuing to stand up for this community and for our constituents in terms of trying to prevent the establishment of a detention facility in Newport, and that’s something that the city will continue to be fighting on,” Mayor Jan Kaplan said at Thursday’s press conference with Wyden.
He said such a facility in Newport would have detrimental impacts on the town’s tourism economy.
Representatives of Newport Fisherman’s Wives and Lincoln County – aside from the late Commissioner Claire Hall – have shied away from statements about the potential ICE facility but have been a strong voice in keeping the helicopter in Newport.
Wyden did not divulge many details about his tour of the air base except to say he met with six Coast Guardsmen and the helicopter continues to be operational in Newport.
Because the Trump Administration has a history of abandoning projects only to come back to them with full force, he told the Lincoln Chronicle that coastal residents need to keep a watchful eye on the helicopter and any potential plans for a detention center.
“We’ve come too far and we’ve worked too hard to just say that our work is done, and that’s why we’re going to hear a little bit more about some of what folks in the community are doing,” Wyden said.
- Shayla Escudero covers Lincoln County government, education, Newport, housing and social services for Lincoln Chronicle and can be reached at [email protected]
We must keep up the fight to keep ICE out of our community!
I do find it curious that the Fisherman’s Wives, who have so much influence and political muscle, are not using their voices to advocate against an ICE facility, which would bring hundreds of agents to the community and likely result in the detention of many of the hardworking folks who process seafood. I know at the city council meeting, one of the spokeswomen stated it was not in their mission to advocate for anyone other than fishing families. But aren’t the fish plant workers “family” too?
I’m on the board of Habitat for Humanity and although our mission is of course affordable housing, we partner with other non-profits all the time and assist in their advocacy. We use our voices to support Samaritan House, My Safe Place, and many a food pantry.
I’m confused by the singularity of the Fishermen’s Wives’ mission when we could all get so much more done for our community if we work together.
The NFW’s lack of position regarding an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newport is very noticeable and disappointing.