Executive Summary
- Oregon’s congressional delegation is formally questioning the Department of Homeland Security about its plans for the coastal city of Newport.
- Concerns center on the reported relocation of a vital Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter without community consultation.
- Lawmakers are also seeking answers regarding rumors that DHS plans to build an ICE detention facility in the town.
- The letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem demands a briefing and written responses by mid-November.
A group of federal lawmakers from Oregon is demanding answers from the Trump administration regarding reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has relocated a crucial Coast Guard helicopter from Newport and is considering the coastal town for a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility. In a letter sent Wednesday, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle, called for immediate clarification on the department’s plans.
The letter, addressed to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, expresses deep concern over the unannounced relocation of the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. The lawmakers emphasized the aircraft’s vital role in search and rescue operations for the central Oregon Coast’s fishing industry and local residents, particularly with the crabbing season approaching. “This move endangers all those at sea, and will certainly undermine search and rescue operations,” the letter stated.
The congressional delegation also pressed for information on “reports and rumors” of plans to establish an ICE detention facility in Newport. They argued that such a move, potentially replacing the Coast Guard assets, would have significant negative social and economic consequences for the community. “Newport residents and small business owners remain extremely concerned about the social and economic consequences that will result from ICE enhancing its presence in the town,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers have requested a briefing with Secretary Noem as soon as possible and have asked for written responses to a series of questions by November 14, 2025. The questions seek to confirm whether DHS directed the reassignment of Coast Guard assets and to clarify what steps, if any, have been taken toward establishing an ICE facility in Newport.
