Private Prisons for Profit
In response to the exploding prison populations in the 1980’s, for profit corporations were formed to house the flood of new inmates. The only for profit prison in WA state as of 2025, is the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma Washington and is operated by The Geo Group. It imprisons over 1500 people with immigration challenges, and has been the subject of legal actions for abusive practices and conditions. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project provides background on the detention center.
On April 14, 2021, Governor Inslee signed into law the banning of for-profit detention centers. The Geo Group filed a lawsuit and subsequently won its case against the State arguing the State’s interference with federal immigration authority and contracting. (The GEO Group says that the State of Washington is trying to unconstitutionally override the federal government’s immigration enforcement powers.)
Ongoing state legislation, even as of 2025, has attempted to provide the State the ability of oversight to address the number of abuses and inhumane conditions at the detention center. More recent legal battles are trying to address the labor/wage inequities within the Tacoma Detention Center system. In January 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court cited Geo Group had violated labor laws concerning detainee workers.
In April 2023, Governor signed into law requiring the detention facilities “clothing and footwear, price of food items in the commissary, free telecommunications services for 60 minutes daily, in-person visitation allowing children and personal contact, prohibition on solitary confinement, provision of telephones and handheld radios at no cost, invitations to outside speakers and presenters, provision of computer and internet, availability of a law library, communication in each detained individual’s primary language, reporting of sexual violence and harassment grievances, provision of mental health evaluations and free culturally competent mental health therapy, prompt medical care, natural light and windows in sleeping rooms, and emergency response. The AGO may enforce violations of these conditions. Definitions are added for basic personal hygiene items, culturally competent, detained
person, fresh fruits and vegetables, personal protective equipment, solitary confinement, and
telecommunications services” and provided for State inspections. The Judge in the case partially blocked the State’s law and is moving onto the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as of February 2025.
Since the election of President Donald Trump in both 2016 and again in 2024 there has been a significant increase within the Tacoma detention center as a result of the massive effort on the administration’s deportation activities.
Up until COVID both Tahoma UU Congregation and Vashon Island UUs, were present onsite at the facility and provided information and personal supplies to the families entering into the NW Detention facility.