Several members of the Immigrant Support team attended a webinar in December –
Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC): What Can You Do? It was presented by Lydia Zepeda, the Immigrant Issues chair for the WA State LWV and a co-author of the Welcoming Immigrants study.
NWIPC (formerly known as the NW Detention Center) is a for-profit immigrant prison in Tacoma, WA owned and operated by GEO Group on behalf of ICE. The GEO Group brings in ~$95 million a year from the Tacoma facility through fees charged to ICE and for phone and commissary charges to detainees. The capacity of NWIPC is 1,575 but it is unknown how many are currently detained there. The prisoner population includes green card holders, asylum seekers, tourists, pregnant women, and persons with civil or traffic violations.
Conditions there are of great concern – crowding, poor food and sanitation, inadequate medical and mental health care, insufficient clothing and blankets, use of solitary confinement, and lights on 24/7. Infectious diseases including Covid, chicken pox, and TB have been reported. Depression and anxiety are the norm. These deliberately intolerable conditions encourage self-deportation, especially since very few bonds are being approved at present.
Zepeda concludes her presentation with suggestions for advocacy including:
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Support legislation to improve conditions
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Request oversight by legislators, the Tacoma Police Department, and the Pierce County
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Health Department
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Donate to non-profits serving immigrants at the NWIPC
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Write letters and make visits
Visit the Immigrant Support page of the League website to learn more.
