Copyright The Oregonian
A Texas contractor known for setting up military housing on the double is looking to lease land at Newport’s city-owned airport on the Oregon coast, records reveal. A four-page letter obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive Tuesday sheds a little light on the possible federal project — which Newport officials say might be a new base for federal immigration agents. Oregon Public Broadcasting first reported on the letter. The “letter of intent” makes no mention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in particular, saying only that the 4.3 acre property would be used “to support federal operations” beginning as soon as Dec. 1. In an interview, Newport Mayor Jan Kitchel said the city neither proposed nor sought out the possible siting — but residents and tourists are already flooding his inbox with concerns. “What I’m hearing from our constituents is that they’re very concerned about people being fearful in this community,” Kitchel said. “But we can’t even begin to analyze this project, because we’re guessing at what it is they want to do.” If city officials were to approve the lease, Team Housing Solutions, Inc. says the airport land would host storage containers, mobile office trailers, generators, other vehicles and equipment. Workers would also install a 12-foot-high security fence “for controlled access” and pour aggregate to stabilize the land. “Tenant shall have suitable ingress and egress to the property for daily operations, deliveries and personnel,” Housing Solutions Vice President of Operations William Cavanaugh wrote in the letter to Newport City Manager Nina Vetter. The letter is dated Tuesday, Nov. 4, and doesn’t mention a lease price. Newport officials first revealed the potential site Monday, saying that ICE’s connection to the project was credible but not confirmed. “We’re always in the fact-finding business,” city spokesperson John Fuller said in a phone interview Tuesday. “We want to be very cautious, but we want to be very transparent with our community about the things that we’re seeing and understanding.” Masked ICE agents operating out of the Newport Municipal Airport would be a change of pace for the city of 10,000, which is more frequently distinguished by its crab and fishing industry. News of the potential ICE facility comes as Newport officials have protested the rehoming of a rescue helicopter from the Newport Airport to the U.S. Coast Guard Base in North Bend, about 100 miles south. The change raises questions as to whether the federal government intends to use the helicopter station in Newport for another purpose. There has been some speculation that the North Bend base could also be repurposed by the administration of President Donald Trump, according to OPB. Lincoln County Commissioner Walter Chuck stressed that the Coast Guard helicopter is vital for search and rescue missions, including for hikers lost in the wilderness and fishing boats braving treacherous seas. “The helicopter being gone is a big deal. They save people’s lives,” the commissioner said. “As far as the conjecture about the ICE facility, that is still ongoing.” Newport officials say it’s unclear if the helicopter has been moved on a temporary or permanent basis. The Coast Guard, which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, also operates a coast-watch station on Yaquina Bay. Operations there have not been affected so far, according to the mayor. Newport’s City Council will meet for an executive session at 4 p.m. Wednesday and host a special public meeting on the topic at 6 p.m. Housing Solutions didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
