‘Why Are Homeland Security Helicopters Circling Portland?’ Oregon Lawmakers Demand Answers
A group of Oregon lawmakers wrote a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem demanding answers about the loud, disruptive, persistent noise Portlanders are subjected to after DHS increased the use of helicopters around the ICE facility.
They want to know why DHS is directing helicopters to fly over Portland and have several other questions.
Oregon Lawmakers Ask Noem To Explain Noisy Helicopters In Portland
Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Maxine Dexter, wrote to Noem asking for answers about the increased use of helicopters around the ICE facility in South Portland after the Port of Portland received over 40 noise complaints about the helicopters on September 27 and 28. The City of Portland received a substantial increase in the number of aircraft-related noise complaints.
The lawmakers indicate that their offices received a significant number of calls from constituents angered and stressed by the persistent noise, frequent disruptions from the helicopters, and what they perceive as misuse of government resources.
The disruptions from the helicopters have rattled buildings, interrupted people’s workdays, and kept them awake at night.
In their letter, the lawmakers said, “Portland residents want and deserve to feel safe in their homes. Sending helicopters to circle over residential areas for multiple hours each day disturbs the peace and quiet they deserve to enjoy in their neighborhoods.”
They raised these questions:
- Why the Department of Homeland Security is directing helicopters to fly over Portland, and asked Noem for a detailed description of what goal DHS is trying to achieve with the helicopters, as well as an explanation of why DHS deems the use of helicopters to be necessary.
- If DHS will take steps to minimize the noise from helicopters and mitigate disruptions for residents in the area, especially at night when residents are sleeping, and, if not, suggest they should either discontinue flying helicopters over Portland or take alternative measures.
- When DHS plans to stop flying helicopters over Portland, and what steps can be taken to end the helicopter patrols immediately.
- Whether the helicopters are owned and operated by the DHS, or the names of other agencies that do.
- What is the cost of flying the helicopters per hour?
- Whether the same helicopter assets flying over Portland in the last 30 days were previously deployed in the previous six months as part of any criminal law enforcement or border security mission
- What mission or missions were these helicopters normally assigned to before being assigned to patrol over Portland?
- Whether DHS denied any requests from federal, state, or local agencies to use helicopters, including a list with the name of the requester, the purpose of the request, when the request occurred, and the reason for denying the request.