Why is Newport Municipal Airport suing to stop a federal ICE facility construction?

The City of Newport, Oregon, has initiated a major legal battle. The city is suing federal agencies to block the construction of a proposed ICE detention facility at the Newport Municipal Airport lawsuit.

A lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon on Monday. The suit names the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, and the U.S. Coast Guard as defendants.

City officials allege the federal government acted in secret. They claim there was no public notice regarding the facility plans. Furthermore, no environmental or economic impact analysis was conducted for the city.

The Airport Property Deed Dispute

The core of the legal challenge centers on a airport property deed dispute over the land use. The federal government operates a 3.5-acre parcel at the airport. This site is known as the Coast Guard Air Facility, or AIRFAC Newport.

The city granted this land in 1992. The deed specified the property's primary use. It was strictly for a Coast Guard aviation facility.

Newport's lawsuit alleges the federal government stopped using the land for this purpose in May 2025. Under the deed's terms, the property should revert to the city. This reversion is due no later than May 2026.

The city is seeking the return of the AIRFAC Newport land. They also want a federal judge to deem the decision to build the facility "arbitrary and capricious."

Aviation Operations and Economic Concerns

The dispute has immediate implications for local aviation real estate law and operations. A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction on the same day the city filed its suit. This order prevents the relocation of the U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter.

Federal officials had diverted the Coast Guard crews to the Southern Border. The helicopter is vital for search and rescue missions. It is especially critical for the local fishing industry.

City officials fear the ICE detention facility construction will severely damage the local economy. Newport's community deeply relies on tourism.

• The facility would strain the municipal airport's limited capacity.
• Federal contractors have inquired about services for over 200 people.
• This activity would take hotel rooms off the market for tourists.
• The city's tax revenue from room and board would decrease.

Regulatory and State Challenges

Newport's lawsuit is not the only challenge to the federal plans. The State of Oregon also filed an amended complaint. State attorneys are seeking an injunction to block construction.

They argue the federal government is skirting regulations. Specifically, they cite federal environmental and coastal land use rules. These laws require more public notice and impact analysis.

Attorneys for the state allege the federal agencies have acted "behind closed doors." They claim the agencies ignored requests for information from local officials.

Contractors have been contacting local businesses, including hotels and utility entities. This suggests plans for the facility are moving forward.

Reports indicate that ICE planned to hold most detainees for less than 72 hours. This is allegedly to avoid triggering federal rules for heightened standards of care.

This ongoing legal fight highlights the tension between federal immigration policy and local airport land use dispute concerns. The outcome will set a precedent for how federal agencies use land granted for specific aviation purposes. This situation is a key piece of commercial aviation news affecting local infrastructure and economic stability.

Mayor Jan Kaplan has asked residents to remain respectful. She noted that government employees, like U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, perform vital work at the Port of Newport.