Lakeside/Shutter Creek — Proposed ICE Tent Facility on Federal Land
Overview
In early 2026, federal contractor KVG identified multiple sites in Coos County for a temporary ICE detention facility after being rejected in Newport. The primary candidate was a 30-acre federally-owned parcel near Lakeside, an incorporated community north of Coos Bay. The former Shutter Creek Correctional Facility (a minimum-security state prison closed in 2022) was also considered. The proposal is currently stalled but explicitly not dead.
Sites Evaluated
1. 30-Acre Federal Parcel Near Lakeside
Federally-owned land near Lakeside. Key advantage: federal ownership could potentially bypass Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Act restrictions on public bodies. An incorporated community with limited infrastructure.
2. Former Shutter Creek Correctional Facility
- Minimum-security state prison leased to Oregon DOC from the federal government
- Closed in 2022
- Currently headquarters for the Elliott State Research Forest
- 33 acres of federal land
- Existing correctional infrastructure (buildings, perimeter, utilities)
3. Third Floor of Coos County Jail
Would require repurposing existing county facility space.
Proposed Facility Specifications
Per contractor KVG (managing director Adam Prosser):
- Type: Tent-style camp (consistent with Trump administration’s mass deportation infrastructure)
- Capacity: 100-200 detainees
- Staffing: 115-130 guards and other staff
- Duration: Temporary/expeditionary
Current Status
The proposal stalled after community backlash in late February/early March 2026. KVG’s Prosser stated the Lakeside proposal “might be moot at this point” but added: “We’ll let (it) simmer on our side and see if the government demand signal for Oregon comes back up.”
This is not a dead proposal — it is a paused one waiting for political conditions to change.
Sources
- KLCC: Feds eye another stretch of Oregon coast for ICE detention center (Mar 3, 2026)
- The World Link: ICE inquiry sparks concerns amongst locals
- Hoodline: Feds eye Lakeside for ICE site, Coos County pushes back (Feb 2026)
Cross-References
- See also: coos-county-or-ice-detention-proposal — full county-fight entry with political dynamics
- See also: oregon-sanctuary-vs-enforcement — Newport Coast Guard fight (the prior rejected proposal)