Oregon — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not planning to expand or open new detention facilities in Oregon, while pursuing increased detention capacity elsewhere nationwide.
In a formal response dated February 13, 2026, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the agency continues to assess detention needs as enforcement operations lead to a growing number of arrests, particularly involving individuals with criminal records. The agency is working with federal partners, including the U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Prisons, to expand available bedspace.
ICE is also soliciting contractors to operate newly acquired detention facilities across the country, with awards expected in the coming months and facilities anticipated to be operational by the end of fiscal year 2026.
Despite national expansion efforts, Lyons stated that Oregon is not currently under consideration for new or expanded detention sites.
The agency outlined that detainees are housed across a mix of ICE-operated, contracted, and government facilities, and that all sites must comply with federal detention standards. These include requirements for safety, medical care, nutrition, legal access, and oversight.
Soft-sided facilities, such as those in Texas and Florida, are governed by National Detention Standards 2025 and are subject to inspections and compliance monitoring by multiple oversight bodies. ICE reported no waivers of detention standards for such facilities in 2025.
Detainees in ICE custody are provided procedural protections during immigration proceedings, including the right to legal representation at their own expense and access to pro bono legal resources.
ICE emphasized that detention conditions are regularly reviewed through on-site monitoring, audits, and inspections conducted by internal and external oversight offices.
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