Washington State Takes Geo Group to Court Over Denial of Health Inspections at ICE Detention Center

Washington state is escalating its fight against the for-profit prison operator Geo Group, demanding a federal court force the company to allow health inspections at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. This detention center, holding up to 1,600 immigrants awaiting deportation, has been the subject of thousands of complaints alleging inhumane conditions.

Since Washington passed a law in 2023 affirming its authority to enforce health and safety regulations on private detention facilities, Geo Group has refused to cooperate. Inspectors from the Washington Department of Health have been denied entry all 10 times they attempted inspections, including as recently as April 20 when they sought to investigate water quality concerns.

Governor Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown held a news conference outside the facility on Tuesday to announce the lawsuit. Brown emphasized that Geo Group’s defiance is not just a legal issue but a moral failure, given the serious allegations from detainees.

State records show nearly 3,500 complaints over recent years, with almost 1,000 related to food, water, and air quality. Detainees reported food contaminated with burned plastic, splinters, hair, and worms, while the water reportedly tasted foul. Although the city of Tacoma supplies fine water, the poor conditions inside the facility suggest problems with internal maintenance and infrastructure.

Geo Group has challenged the state’s law in court, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the legislation. Geo now has until June 11 to seek a Supreme Court appeal, but meanwhile, it continues to block health inspectors, citing the need to coordinate with ICE’s Seattle field office—a request that has yielded no access.

This standoff highlights the ongoing crisis in private immigration detention: a for-profit model operating with minimal transparency, leaving detainees vulnerable to neglect and abuse. Washington’s legal action underscores the urgent need for oversight and accountability in facilities that hold some of the most marginalized people in the immigration system.