ICE Says It Will Not Open New Detention Centers in Oregon After Lawmaker Pressure

In response to a letter from Democratic lawmakers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons said the agency has no plans to open any new detention facilities in Oregon- or expand current ones.

ICE Says It Has No Plans For New Detention Center In Oregon

Responding to an inquiry led by U.S. Congresswomen Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Senator Jeff Merkley Lyons replied to a February 12 letter signed by Senator Wyden and U.S. Congresswomen Bonamici, Dexter, and Bynum, saying, “ICE is not currently planning to expand current detention facilities or open any new long or short-term detention facilities in Oregon.”

The lawmakers are opposed to any increased ICE presence in the state, where ICE has only one enforcement facility- in Portland on the South Waterfront. Speculation has been rife that ICE was scouting Newport for a new detention facility.

The speculation arose amid ICE’s Bid for Office Space in Southern Oregon, which sparked a backlash. Democrats have opposed even additional ICE office space.

ICE Oregon Detainees Transferred To Out-of-state Detention Centers Lose Rights To Challenge Detention

Even without a new or expanded detention center, people arrested by ICE in Oregon are typically transferred to Tacoma within hours, losing their ability to have their detention challenges heard in Oregon Courts.

Oregon’s chief federal judge, U.S. District Judge Michael McShane, confirmed that local courts generally lose the ability to hear these cases once detainees cross into Washington.

Once detainees are taken to the detention center in Tacoma, it becomes more difficult for them to fight back.

ICE does not have contracts to hold detainees in Oregon jails, which means people detained in Oregon are typically sent to the detention center in Tacoma after processing, generally the same day.