Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and City Councilor Steve Novick announced Monday they will provide a combined $20,000 from their office budgets to support Newport’s legal challenge to efforts to establish an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing and detention facility at the Newport Municipal Airport.
Regional support for Newport’s lawsuit
The contribution follows a formal request from Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan, who says the city discovered in late 2025 that federal contractors had been exploring converting airport property into an ICE facility. The proposal reportedly included removing the U.S. Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue helicopter from the site.
Newport has sued the federal government, asserting required processes were not followed. While the Department of Homeland Security and ICE have acknowledged that they were exploring the facility and have stated they are “no longer planning” to move forward, Newport’s leaders are pursuing permanent restrictions through the courts. Legal costs for Newport’s effort have approached $500,000, according to the city.
“Our support reflects Portland’s responsibility to stand alongside communities and mayors across Oregon to keep communities safe, keep families together, and ensure every person is treated with dignity and respect,” Mayor Keith Wilson said.
Councilor Novick framed the contribution as part of a broader pattern of municipal mutual aid. “Just as we share resources with other communities when they’re fighting fires, we should help to make sure Newport has the legal resources it needs to fight ICE,” he said, adding that other Oregon jurisdictions including Ashland, Yachats and Benton County have also provided support.
How much cities have contributed
| Source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mayor Keith Wilson (Portland) | $10,000 |
| Councilor Steve Novick (Portland) | $10,000 |
| Newport legal costs to date | Nearly $500,000 |
Local implications and coordination
Portland’s contribution was coordinated by Brenda Alvarado, the city’s Immigrant Affairs Lead, who helped organize assistance from municipalities across Oregon. The effort underscores how some Oregon cities view the prospect of federal detention facilities as a regional concern affecting public safety, family unity and local control over land use.
- Portland provided funding from elected officials’ office budgets, not from the city’s general operating fund.
- Multiple Oregon jurisdictions have joined Newport’s effort, signaling a wider coalition of municipal resistance.
- Although DHS and ICE have said they are no longer planning to move forward, Newport continues legal action seeking permanent restrictions.
Legal experts and local officials say contributing to another city’s litigation is not unprecedented, particularly when neighboring jurisdictions believe federal actions would have spillover effects. For Portland residents, the decision places the city government squarely in the ongoing statewide debate over immigration enforcement, local land use and the role of federal contractors in using municipal property.
Portland officials did not indicate when the funds would be disbursed or how they would be used by Newport’s legal team. Newport’s lawsuit remains active as the city seeks a judicial order preventing a future conversion of airport property for detention and processing purposes.
Brenda Alvarado, who led coordination of the campaign, described the donations as part of a larger commitment by Oregon communities to support one another when confronted with federal proposals they view as overreach. The coming weeks may show whether other cities increase financial support or pursue their own legal or political measures.
For Portlanders, the action raises questions about the appropriate use of elected officials’ discretionary funds, how municipalities should respond to federal agency proposals, and the limits of regional cooperation when contentious national policies intersect with local governance.
