Washington asks federal judge to require health inspection access at Tacoma ICE detention center

Tuesday, April 28, 2026Rights & JusticeWell-covered5 frames

Washington state asked a federal judge on Tuesday for a preliminary injunction or court order requiring GEO Group to allow state health inspectors into the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.
The Northwest ICE Processing Center is operated by GEO Group and holds immigrants detained under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Washington officials say Department of Health inspectors have repeatedly been denied entry to the Tacoma facility, including 10 attempted inspections that did not go forward.
The state says it is seeking access so inspectors can investigate more than 3,500 complaints from detainees about conditions at the facility.
This legal fight follows Washington's 2023 law asserting authority to enforce generally applicable health and safety laws at private detention facilities, and state officials say courts have already recognized that inspection authority.
The dispute has become a yearslong battle over state oversight of the Tacoma detention center and whether Washington can inspect conditions there while GEO continues to resist entry.

Washington state asked a federal judge on Tuesday for a preliminary injunction or court order requiring GEO Group to allow state health inspectors into the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.
The Northwest ICE Processing Center is operated by GEO Group and holds immigrants detained under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Washington officials say Department of Health inspectors have repeatedly been denied entry to the Tacoma facility, including 10 attempted inspections that did not go forward.
The state says it is seeking access so inspectors can investigate more than 3,500 complaints from detainees about conditions at the facility.
This legal fight follows Washington's 2023 law asserting authority to enforce generally applicable health and safety laws at private detention facilities, and state officials say courts have already recognized that inspection authority.
The dispute has become a yearslong battle over state oversight of the Tacoma detention center and whether Washington can inspect conditions there while GEO continues to resist entry.