1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to demand the immediate closure of the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, and an end to all public or private contracts that allow its continued operation. This facility, run by the for-profit GEO Group under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stands as a symbol of systemic abuse and dehumanization that has no place in a just society. The human rights violations inside this facility are well documented and deeply disturbing. Detainees—many of whom are asylum seekers or community members with deep ties to Washington—are subjected to inhumane conditions. Reports from former detainees, human rights organizations, and federal inspectors describe a pattern of medical neglect, prolonged solitary confinement, retaliation against hunger strikers, and unsafe, unsanitary conditions. This is not a new issue. For years, detainees have engaged in hunger strikes—not for privileges, but for basic rights: adequate medical care, edible food, humane treatment, and due process. These peaceful protests are a desperate plea for justice, too often met with punishment rather than reform. What’s worse is that this cruelty is fueled by profit. The GEO Group profits millions from detaining immigrants while cutting corners on care and accountability. This detention center is the result of a deeply flawed, profit-driven model—one that prioritizes incarceration over compassion and secrecy over transparency. Washington has already spoken on this issue. In 2021, the state passed legislation to phase out private prisons, affirming that no one should be imprisoned for profit. And yet, the Tacoma detention center continues to operate, propped up by federal contracts and legal loopholes. This is a direct betrayal of our values and the will of the people. We cannot ignore what is happening here. People—human beings—are being held in a facility that disregards their dignity and well-being simply for seeking safety or opportunity. It is morally indefensible for our tax dollars to support such suffering. Detention is not safety. True public safety comes from community investment, justice, and a commitment to human rights—not from the walls of a for-profit prison. I took part in a May Day protest outside the facility and was horrified by the stories shared and the visible signs of suffering. I urge you: visit this place yourself. Listen to those who have endured it. Witness the reality you are being asked to support. The time for complacency is over. Shut it down. End the contract. Release detainees to their families and communities. Invest in humane, community-based alternatives that uphold due process and dignity. Washington must not be the site of a human rights crisis. The Northwest ICE Processing Center must be closed—and its legacy of cruelty must never be repeated.