WA Blocked From Inspecting Tacoma Immigrant Detention Center

State health officials have been denied access to the facility despite a court ruling allowing inspections.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:00am

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A photorealistic painting of a solitary barbed wire fence or detention center gate, with warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of isolation and melancholy.The battle for transparency and oversight at a controversial immigrant detention center exposes the human toll of restrictive policies.Tacoma Today

Washington state health inspectors have been repeatedly denied access to the Tacoma immigrant detention center operated by the GEO Group, despite a federal appeals court ruling last year that paved the way for them to inspect the facility. State officials say the private prison operator is obstructing their efforts to check on conditions at the center, which has faced longstanding concerns about medical treatment, abuse, and neglect of detainees.

Why it matters

The Tacoma detention center has been a source of controversy for years, with allegations of poor conditions and mistreatment of detainees. State officials are concerned about the lack of oversight and want to ensure the health and safety of the vulnerable population held at the facility.

The details

Since 2023, the Washington Department of Health has made nine unsuccessful attempts to inspect the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. Most recently, on March 20, the GEO Group, which operates the detention center, turned away the state inspectors, telling them they needed to file a request with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Seattle. The Department of Health submitted this request on Friday but had not received a response as of Tuesday afternoon.

  • In August 2025, a federal appeals court ruling paved the way for state health inspectors to access the detention center.
  • In February 2026, GEO asked the appeals court to rehear the case and pause enforcement of the court's order, but the court denied both requests.
  • The appeals court's ruling formally took effect in early March 2026, and GEO has until mid-May to file a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court.

The players

GEO Group

The private company that operates the Tacoma immigrant detention center and has been fighting a state law that would mandate greater oversight of the facility.

Bob Ferguson

The governor of Washington, who has criticized GEO Group for obstructing the state's efforts to inspect the detention center.

Lauren Jenks

The assistant secretary for environmental public health at the Washington Department of Health, who has expressed frustration about not being able to help address issues at the detention center.

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What they’re saying

“GEO Group is obstructing our efforts to inspect the Northwest ICE Processing Center. The law is clear. We are going to do what it takes to get our health inspectors into that facility.”

— Bob Ferguson, Governor of Washington

“I am super frustrated that we know that there's people who are hurting and we haven't been able to help problem-solve what's happening there. People in a detention center like this are among the most vulnerable people in Washington, and who's looking out for them?”

— Lauren Jenks, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Public Health, Washington Department of Health

What’s next

The Department of Health is waiting to hear back from ICE on its request to access the detention center. GEO Group has until mid-May to file a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to review the federal appeals court's ruling that allowed the state inspections.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing battle over oversight and transparency at the Tacoma immigrant detention center, where vulnerable detainees have faced allegations of poor conditions and mistreatment. The state's persistent efforts to inspect the facility underscore the importance of ensuring the health and safety of those held in such detention centers.