Copyright The Oregonian
State and federal lawmakers say they’ve been kept in the dark about a possible U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement facility at the Newport Municipal Airport — but emerging clues point to the project’s potential scale. Public job postings for “detention officers” based in Newport, a request for septic tank services and a bid to lease four vacant acres at the airport all suggest ICE is planning to build a detention facility, elected officials say. In a statement, Gov. Tina Kotek said the federal government “continues to refuse to share their plans” with her or the public. “While information is limited at this time, I oppose spending taxpayer dollars on an unwanted and unnecessary additional ICE detention facility in Newport, or any part of the state,” Kotek said. On Wednesday, four members of Oregon’s congressional delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem asking her to share the department’s plans and questioning the decision to move a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter stationed at Newport. The letter argues that establishing a detention facility in Newport would be “deeply misguided” and could disrupt the tourism and fishing industries that are so important to the city of 10,000. “ICE has already rounded up law-abiding members of our communities who present no threat to public safety, which has created fear among Oregon families,” says the letter, signed by Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle, all Democrats. ICE and the Coast Guard didn’t immediately respond to inquiries. Noem, as secretary of homeland security, controls the Coast Guard, which owns a helicopter base at the airport. State Rep. David Gomberg, D-Newport, said the Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, used for water rescues and other missions, was quietly redeployed to a different base, about 100 miles south of Newport, at the end of October. “They pulled the helicopter out without any notice just when the weather is turning bad and the crab season is beginning,” Gomberg said in an interview. “People will potentially die because of that decision.” Job postings first identified by Oregon Public Broadcasting show Asset Protection & Security Services, a Texas-based contractor, is looking to hire detention officers to “provide care, custody and control of those in ICE custody” in Newport. Other ads posted by Acuity International, a Virginia contractor, seek applicants for a variety of health-care workers in Newport, including registered nurses, behavioral-health technicians and an infection-prevention officer. Dan Brammer, an Acuity employee, sent a request Monday to a Lincoln County septic company, saying that an unidentified “federal project” will require pumping services for 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of sewage a day, for as long as three years, according to screenshots reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive. The request also sought pricing for portable toilets and handwashing stations. Brammer and the septic business owner, Angie Ware, declined to comment. Separate from the helicopter base, a Texas contractor known for being able to quickly set up military housing is looking to lease the four acres of vacant land, records show. Newport’s city council has made no decision regarding the request to lease the four acres of undeveloped land at the city-owned airport, which is located about three miles south of downtown, The seven-person council is set to discuss the issue at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
