A federal appeals court decision has opened the door for Washington State health inspectors to examine conditions inside Tacoma’s controversial immigrant detention center after years of legal battles blocking oversight.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court injunction last month, potentially allowing the Washington State Department of Health to inspect the Northwest ICE Processing Center for the first time despite receiving nearly 2,700 complaints about facility conditions.
“We don’t have a clear way to see whether people are being treated in a way that protects their health and humanity,” said Lauren Jenks, DOH’s assistant secretary for environmental public health.
The 1,575-bed private facility at 1623 East J Street is operated by Florida-based GEO Group under contract to hold immigrant detainees before deportation or release. Health officials await finalization of the appeals court ruling to begin inspections.
Complaints received by the state include disease outbreaks involving tuberculosis, medication access issues, sanitation problems, and overcrowding. Reports also detail mistreatment, abuse, and neglect, with some cases referred to Tacoma Police.
“One that we are especially worried about is clean drinking water,” Jenks said. “We have heard complaints of violence and sexual assault, and we turned those over to the Tacoma Police Department.”
Josefina Mora-Cheung, an immigrant rights activist with La Resistencia, described widespread health-related complaints from detainees. “The most common complaints we hear of are the inedible food, food that is really poor quality, or is very small portions,” she said.
Mora-Cheung noted that meals sometimes aren’t served until 2 or 3 a.m., affecting people requiring medication with food, including pregnant detainees lacking proper medical care.
State inspectors previously attempted entry under general public health authority and House Bill 1470, passed in 2023 and sponsored by Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo, to increase oversight of the facility.
GEO Group and Immigration and Customs Enforcement consistently denied access, with the private company successfully obtaining a federal injunction to block the 2023 legislation until the recent appeals court reversal.
“As we look at the complaints and guess at what might be happening there, we do think there are probably some things that the GEO Group could do in maintenance of the facility that would resolve those complaints,” Jenks said.
A GEO Group spokesperson emphasized their role supporting ICE’s law enforcement mission, stating all services are monitored by federal agents. The company cited around-the-clock medical care, visitation access, meals, and accreditation by correctional associations.
The spokesperson did not address why the company prohibits state health inspections.
“It is just another way that they are trying to hide all the conditions, inhumane conditions, that are putting people in detention at risk, putting their health at risk,” Mora-Cheung said.
If courts ultimately support DOH authority, GEO Group could face fines up to $10,000 per violation for failing to comply with state standards.
The Department of Labor and Industries conducted workplace inspections last year, but DOH seeks to examine different health-related issues. Urgency has increased as more detainees arrive under expanded immigration enforcement.
“This is important and urgent because this is a population of people who are the most vulnerable here in the state of Washington,” Jenks said. “I think we need to be able to assure that this group, which has limited ability to advocate for themselves, is in a place that is safe and healthy for them.”
