Washington and Oregon UUs at the Northwest Detention Center
COVID hit us pretty hard, but we are returning to the immigrant justice sphere. On July 25, 2026, UUs from Washington State and Oregon joined La Resistencia and the North Pacific Quakers in an event at the Northwest Detention Center. Rev. Margo Rinehart of Tahoma UU spoke at the event. Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee was the primary organizer of the UU contingent.
The event was held in solidarity with the 2025 GA Responsive Resolution, a call out to participate in nation-wide protests at detention centers. The resolution was in response to a call for support from UUs and allies in protesting the conditions at the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey. Hunger strikes have been going on to protests over poor living conditions, lack of access to medical care, poor food quality standards and more. The call is also to close Delaney Hall down. The managing company, The GEO group, is the same company that manages the Northwest Detention Center here in Tacoma. Hunger strikes have been going on in the Tacoma center for years over the same conditions.
In 2021, Washington UUs supported state legislation that would prohibit renewing or signing new contracts with private prisons, which included the detention center. The bill passed, but was and The GEO group sued. The the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a similar case in California, stuck down the that ban and Washington withdrew the legislation. In 1923, another piece of legislation was passed that attempted to pass rules and regulations on private detention facilities. These rules and regulations covered sanitizing living spaces, install heating and air condition, respond to violence inside the center and provide competent mental care services and allow daily in-person visitations. It also called for the state to be allowed to conduct routine unannounced inspections. Again, The GEO group sued and the district judge sided with the company. Again, in 2025, Washington State passed another law on the oversight of privately run detention facilities, which again, include the Northwest Detention Facility. The law gave the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) the authority to inspect private detention centers to ensure compliance with minimum health and safety standards. The GEO group sued, but this time as of July 2026, the judge determined that The GEO group must allow inspectors inside the facility. The GEO group has appealed and has continued to refuse to let inspectors in. Hunger strikes at the facility continue.
Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Port Townsend WA
We are part of an interfaith group that supports the work of JCIRA (Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates). We offer legal advocacy, community education and have a Rapid Response Team. JCIRA also accompanies people when asked to and goes to the NW Detention Center to witness and offer support.
Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship in Bellingham, WA
The Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship began working with Community to Community for Development in 2005 with a collaborative protest of the minute-man presence on our Northern border. In In 2012, by congregational resolution, they established a formal partnership with C2C. The partnership is still operating and is engaged with addressing a myriad of immigration issues including migrant farmworker rights, racial justice, food sovereignty, citizenship, law enforcement practices, detention and responding to ICE raids of their immigrant community.
Contact Mike Betz, Immigration Rights Ministry Team for Immigration issues
Contact Kara Black, BUF/C2C Partnership for partnership information
Vashon Island Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Vashon WA
The Vashon Island Unitarian Fellowship is still providing detainee visitor support at the Northwest Detention Center every second Saturday of the month. We have changed our timing to mornings every month. We are there from about 9:00 AM until Noon.
- We set up two tables outside the gate entrance with a canopy when needed.
- Detainee visitors are asked to stop by on their way out of the detention center for free refreshments.
- When visitors return from their visit, we try to engage them with free refreshments, printed handouts (NWIRP, NWDC, ACLU), and compassionate listening.
We have been doing this since 2011.
Contact: Melvin Mackey, VIUF Social Justice Committee