The Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma has reported a nearly 50% increase in detainee numbers over the past month, startling local officials and advocates for immigrant rights.
This surge, revealed through numbers shared with U.S. Rep. Emily Randall, has heightened scrutiny over the conditions at the facility, which many liken to a prison despite claims from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the GEO Group, the private company that operates it, that it is not.
Randall visited the detention center and stated, “I didn’t see any material difference between the detention center and a prison,” indicating her alarm at the similarities and conditions she observed.
As part of a nationwide enforcement campaign initiated during the Trump administration, ICE’s activities across Washington state have intensified, aggravating fear among local communities.
Randall expressed concern for individuals living in her district, describing a “real war on immigrants,” where people face the risk of being detained anywhere, from their workplaces to grocery stores.
According to ICE officials, the number of detainees at the Tacoma facility has risen from around 880 in March to over 1,300 currently.
The demographic of those detained is telling; approximately one-third are categorized as more likely to engage in criminal behavior, while the remaining two-thirds include individuals captured during worksite raids, such as the 37 roofers arrested recently, and union organizers from the agricultural sector.
Randall reported improvements in staffing for medical personnel at the facility, noting that medical staff is now at full capacity.
However, she raised concerns about the remaining 40 positions that still need to be filled in other roles, emphasizing the necessity for adequate support for the growing number of detainees, stating, “I worry about… people’s timely access to some of the services that are available.”
Further issues have emerged, including reports of mental health crises among detainees.
A human rights report from the University of Washington highlighted six calls related to suicides attempts at the center early in 2024, with one detainee suspected to have been involved in two attempts according to researchers.
Government inspection reports corroborate the alarming state of mental health care, indicating that detainees had been placed on suicide watch multiple times.
In terms of basic needs, complaints have surfaced regarding the adequacy of food provided to detainees.
Despite government dieticians arguing that the meals meet the “U.S. recommended daily allowances,” patrons of the facility feel that they are not receiving sufficient nutrition as per their needs.
The prolonged detention of individuals is compounded by systemic delays in immigration hearings, which have become increasingly difficult to schedule, leaves many detainees incarcerated for months at a time.
Obtaining a bond to return to daily life while awaiting case outcomes is particularly burdensome at this facility; it is recognized as one of the most challenging venues in the United States to secure bond approval.
A class action lawsuit is currently underway alleging that detainees are facing unfair practices regarding bond processing.
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, which is partially responsible for filing this lawsuit, remarked that no immigration courts in the U.S. have adopted a policy similar to that of the Tacoma facility, which allegedly refuses to consider bond for individuals who have lived in the U.S. for extended periods.
The bond process itself is also a source of frustration as it can take six months or even longer, with detainees lacking the right to challenge a judge’s decision on bail.
Randall has also pointed out another logistics issue: the facility lacks sufficient private meeting rooms for detainees and their legal representatives to discuss cases confidentially.
As GEO Group’s contract to operate the facility is set to expire in September, some local officials expect requests for an expansion of the center in the near future, which raises additional concerns about the ongoing treatment of detainees.
Amid growing pressures and scrutiny, advocates for immigrant rights continue to call for reforms to ensure humane treatment and fair processes for those in immigration detention.
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