Health authorities are currently reviewing multiple suspected cases of tuberculosis (TB) involving detainees at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, raising public health concerns within the immigration detention system.
According to officials, seven individuals have been identified as potentially having TB. While Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) disputes that the facility is experiencing an outbreak, concerns grew after one detainee reportedly refused tuberculosis screening. As a precaution, six other individuals who had been housed nearby were also isolated for monitoring.
An ICE spokesperson emphasized that no positive cases of active TB have been confirmed within the facility, stating the situation is being “mischaracterized.” The detainee who declined testing is said to be in medical isolation, a standard response when TB cannot be ruled out.
Despite ICE’s position, an attorney representing one of the detainees stated that his client was hospitalized last month and placed on a full TB treatment regimen. The individual had reportedly been transferred to Tacoma from a jail in Anchorage and began a course of medications commonly used to treat TB.
The Washington State Department of Health confirmed that no active transmission has been detected within the center. Officials also noted that the cases appear unrelated to one another, and no conclusive lab results have confirmed any infections to date.
While these developments unfold, the Northwest ICE Processing Center continues to face scrutiny over its health and safety protocols. Advocates and watchdogs have long raised concerns about the facility’s medical care standards, overcrowding, and overall living conditions, factors that can heighten the risk of infectious disease.
A new state law gives the Washington Department of Health the authority to inspect private detention facilities for compliance with basic standards around healthcare, food, and sanitation. However, the Tacoma center, operated by the GEO Group, has so far declined entry to state inspectors, and legal efforts to enforce access are ongoing.
Health officials say the situation remains under close observation as they await further lab testing and treatment updates.
